Commerce, Texas

Senior Kanani Marshal picked up where she left off in 2005-06 with her 26th game in double figures with 23 points and her fifth double-double of her career as she added a team-high and matched a career-high with 13 rebounds to lead the Texas A&M-Commerce women's basketball team to a 65-50 victory over Lock Haven in their opening game of Disney Tip Off Classic.

The Pre Season Lone Star Conference North Division Player of the Year did not do it alone. Marshal was joined in double figures by junior Katedria Mosley, who just missed a double-double with 11 points and 9 rebounds and senior Dawn Montgomery, who added 10 in the win. Sophomore Britney Jordan dished out a game-high five assists and senior Rashida Wilson set a new career-high with a game-high four blocks for the Lions.

The win is the Lions fourth in a row in season openers as they begin the season with a 1-0 mark and Lock Haven falls to 0-1.

Holding the Eagles to 50 points are the lowest total by an A&M-Commerce opponent since Texas A&M-Kingsville scored 44 on January 27, 2004 season. It also marks the fourth time that a Downing-led squad has held a team to under 50 points.

After settling down season-opening nerves in the first 20 minutes where they shot 20.9 percent from the field, A&M-Commerce settled down in the second half to shoot 48.4 percent from the field and 32.4 percent for the contest.

Lock Haven also had its share of opening-game jitters and the Lions defense forced the Eagles to shoot 11.8 percent shooting and a 4-for-34 effort from the field in the first half. The Eagles ended the game, shooting 19.7 percent from the field and only 13 field goals against a stifling A&M-Commerce defense. Eagles forward Ginger Williams led Lock Haven with 12 points and a game-high 16 rebounds. Guards Elizabeth Gabrielle and Ilia Lopez added 12 and 11 points, respectively.

The schedule will get tougher for the Lions, who will face North Georgia on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. (CST) and pre-season No. 1 North Dakota on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. (CST). Both games can be heard online at www.lionathletics.com and on the radio at KGVL (1400 AM).