Nov. 5, 2006

Box Score |  Photo Gallery by Danny Kambel  | 

Despite an all-around team effort, the Texas A&M-Commerce women's basketball team dropped a heart-breaking 86-78 overtime decision against North Dakota, who is currently ranked No. 1 in the nation by DII Bulletin and No. 2 in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches preseason poll in the championship game of the Disney Tip Off Classic Energy Division.

The loss drops the Lions to 2-1 on the season as the Sioux raise their record to 86-78. A&M-Commerce landed five players in double figures, sophomore Britney Jordan scored 19 to lead the Lions. Senior Kanani Marshal added 15 and three Lions frontline players were also in double figures led by senior Dominee Evans, who scored 11 and junior Katedria Mosley and senior Tradawn Short came off the bench to pump in 10 each, respectively. Off the bench, senior Rashida Wilson scored eight and pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds. The Lions also got nine rebounds from senior guard Dawn Montgomery and Mosley had eight rebounds. In the defeat; plus, Jordan and Marshal were named to the all-tournament team for their stellar play in the three games.

The Sioux had four players in double figures and were led by forward Kelsey Maffin, who recorded a double-double with a game-high 26 points and 11 rebounds. Guard Carissa Jahner added 16, including an 8-for-8 effort from the free-throw line; plus Danye Guinn and Karla Beck contributed 10 points apiece.

Last year, the Sioux led the nation in three-different statistical categories and in the top five in four more en route a runner-up finish in the nation. The Lions proved that they are capable of competing with a team of this magnitude. A&M-Commerce out rebounded the Sioux, 45-40 and outscored them in the paint, 44-38.

With a five-point lead by the Lions, 70-65, the Sioux scored five points in the next 34 seconds to tie the contest at 70-70 with 26 seconds remaining in regulation. In the run, UND capitalized on a turnover and a technical foul that was assessed to the Lions for calling a time out when they did not have any remaining. Maffin, the tournament MVP, sank the first of two free throws to tie it on the technical.

Her second miss allowed the Lions to set up a game-winning shot for Jordan, who missed a jumper with three seconds remaining. Forward Dominee Evans came down with the rebound; however, an inadvertent whistle ended a chance for a put-back attempt by the junior from Fort Worth. After the inadvertent whistle, the Lions took the ball from underneath their own basket but were unable to get a shot off to send the game into an extra period.

In the extra period, Marshal gave the Lions a 72-70 advantage on a jumper to start the overtime. The Sioux went on a mini 10-3 run to take over the contest en route to the win.

To start the contest, the Sioux raced out to an 18-9 lead on a Guinn jumper at the 15:18 mark. The Lions came back with an 11-0 run to take their first lead of the contest 20-18 as Marshal and Short each scored four points a piece. A&M-Commerce managed to extend the margin to as much as seven in the opening half with 35-28 lead with 4:10 remaining in the first 20 minutes. A 7-0 run midway through the second half brought the Sioux back into the contest and giving North Dakota a 49-47 lead with 12:39 left in regulation. The two teams continued to battle until A&M-Commerce held its final lead of regulation at the 1:06 mark.

The Lions will look to take the momentum from the season-opening tournament into an exhibition game against Division I Stephen F. Austin in Nacogdoches on Wednesday at 7 p.m.