Nola Taylor Leads A&M-Commerce to 68-62 Win Over Southwestern Oklahoma State :: Three Lions Score in Double Digits to Move Back into First Place in the LSC North

Three Lions Score in Double Digits to Move Back into First Place in the LSC North

Feb. 20, 2008

Box Score

Photo Gallery by Shelly Cervantes, A&M-Commerce Sports Information Photgrapher

Junior Nola Taylor, in only her third start, scored a season-high 15 points and grabbed a season-high 17 rebounds to lead Texas A&M University-Commerce to a 68-62 win over Southwestern Oklahoma State at the A&M-Commerce Field House.

With the win and a loss by Northeastern State to Central Oklahoma, A&M-Commerce moves back into first place in the Lone Star Conference North Division. The Lions are currently 18-7 and 7-3 in the LSC North. Taylor was joined in double digits by senior Katedria Mosley, who scored a team-high 20 and junior Britney Jordan added 19 in the victory. In addition, the Lions defense came up with 15 steals.

Southwestern Oklahoma State (14-11, 5-5 LSC North) got a game-high 23 points from Lucy Ramon, who was 7-for-11 from the field and 9-for-11 from the free-throw line, in the loss. She was joined in double figures by Grace Anne Fath and Jessica Giblet, who scored 17 and 10 points, respectively.

The victory avenges a 22-point loss to the Bulldogs on January 30th for A&M-Commerce. In the earlier meeting, SWOSU made eight three pointers and in the rematch, the Lions held them to three.

After Ramon gave SWOSU an early 2-0 lead, the Lions scored the next five points to spark a 15-5 run and a lead for the remainder of the contest. During the run, Jordan and freshman Genevieve Campbell each hit a three pointer. A&M-Commerce held a double-digit advantage for the final 6:31 of the opening half en route to a 28-18 halftime lead.

After a Tarika Campbell free throw extended the Lions lead to 11, the Bulldogs scored the next six points to cut the A&M-Commerce lead to five, 29-24, with 17:06 left in the contest.

With the lead at four for the third time in the second half, 41-37, Jordan hit an off-balanced three pointer from 25 feet out with the shot clock winding down to put the Lions in front 44-37 with 12:04 left in the game. SWOSU managed to cut the deficit to five but a 6-0 run put A&M-Commerce in front 50-39 with 8:53 left. The lead was not safe as SWOSU answered with an 11-1 run to trim the Lions' lead to 51-50 with 5:50 remaining.

Again, Jordan and Taylor answered the challenge and the Bulldogs would only be able to get as close as three down the stretch. Over the final 3:09, A&M-Commerce managed to make nine of 13 free throws for the victory.