No. 6 Washburn Edges Past No. 12 Texas A&M University-Commerce, 79-76

Nov. 23, 2007

Junior Britney Jordan scored 39 points, including eight three pointers, but it was not enough as No. 6 Washburn defeated the No. 12 Texas A&M University-Commerce women's basketball team, 79-76 in the championship game of the Capitol Plaza Hotel/580 WIBW Radio Holiday Classic and a rematch of the 2007 NCAA South Central Regional final.

Washburn (4-0) Corkey Staiger scored 25 points to lead three Lady Blues in double figures along with Amanda Holmes and Hope Gregory, who added 12 and 10 points, respectively.

A&M-Commerce (3-1) was led by the 39 points from Jordan and senior Katedria Mosley nearly had her second double double of the season with 15 points and nine rebounds. Off the bench, junior Brittany Williams gave a spark to the Lions with nine points, five steals and four rebounds in the loss.

Trailing by four, Washburn scored 12 of the first 13 points of the second half to take a 37-30 lead on the Lions. Jordan brought the Lions back into the game when she hit a three pointer with 10:58 left in the game to give A&M-Commerce a 48-47 lead with 10:56 left in the game. The junior from Peoria scored seven of the next nine points in the game to put A&M-Commerce in front 53-49 with 10:07 left in the game.

Washburn rallied to tie the game at 55 and again at 59 when Gregory made a three pointer. The Lady Blues took over the game when Janice Bright made a pair of free throws and Staiger took a steal and converted an uncontested layup for a 63-59 lead. The Lions would stay within a possession of tying it; however, the Lady Blues made seven of eight free throws to keep the Lions from making the come-from-behind effort.

A&M-Commerce went on a 9-0 spurt midway through the first half, during that stretch Mosley and Williams each made three pointers to spark the Lions. With the spurt, A&M-Commerce held a 19-13 advantage with 7:30 left in the first half. The Lady Blues rallied to tie it at 21 but the Lions went back in front on a Dominee Evans lay up and led for the remainder of the first half.

In the first 20 minutes, Mosley scored nine first half points and grabbed five rebounds as the Lions held a 29-25 halftime advantage. Jordan added eight and Williams came off the bench, in 17 minutes of action, to provide seven points and three steals. Staiger scored 12 first half points to lead the Lady Blues.

The Lions return to the court on Monday for a rematch against Southern Arkansas, who A&M-Commerce defeated 55-50 to open the season, at the A&M-Commerce Field House at 6 pm.