After two straight losses, the Texas A&M University – Commerce women’s basketball team were able to right the ship with consecutive wins last week.

The Lions were looking for wins to keep them in a good position in the conference standings with the tournament looming ahead, and that is exactly what they got, securing victories at home against Texas A&M University – Kingsville and on the road against Angelo State.

In the first game against TAMUK, who came into the game winless on the season at 0-21, the Lions looked to secure another win against the Javelinas, who came close to defeating the Lions earlier this season, with A&M – Commerce holding on to a 68-65 victory.

The first half was tightly contested between the two teams, as no team seemed to gain a clear advantage over the other. After a hard fought half, the Lions went to the locker room with a slim 37-33 lead. After the half, the Lions took firm control of the game, outscoring the Javs 35-11 in the first 13 minutes of the game, to jump to a 28 point lead. The game was a forgone conclusion at that point, as the Lions never looked back while cruising to a 74-57 win.

Gabby Scott had a game high 16 points, and Ashlee Johnson also broke double figures with 11 points of her own. La’Tisha Hearne was a strong presence in front of the net, tying TAMUK’s Lauren Jay with a game high eight rebounds.

The star performance of the night was the Lion defense in the second half, who, when coupled with bad shooting by the Javalinas, only allowed TAMUK to go 5-35 from the floor in the second half. The Javs finished the game shooting 26 percent from the floor, as well as 11 percent from 3-point range.

After the emphatic win at home, the Lions travelled to San Angelo to take on the Rambelles. After a hotly contested battle throughout the game, the Lions were able to come away with a hard-earned win.

After a close 30-27 lead at the half, the Lions stepped on the gas, and were able to outgun the Rambelles in the second half, thanks in part to a 14-2 run halfway through the second half. Things got dicey towards the end, with Angelo State coming within 1 with around four minutes remaining. After pull ahead by as many as six points, the Rambelles refused to go away, hitting a key three pointer to pull within three of the Lions with 12 seconds left. However, the Lions were fouled on their next possession and Scott putt the game away with two good free throws to solidify a 67-62 win.

The Lions were led by a youth movement, as freshmen Princess Davis and Artaejah Gay led the Lions in scoring with 16 and 13 points, respectively. Davis also had a game high four assists.

With the wins, the Lions climb to 13-9 on the season (7-5 LSC), and hold fourth place in the conference. The Lions have four games remaining in the regular season, and will face their toughest challenge in their next home game on Feb. 21 against the 6th ranked West Texas A&M Lady Buffs.

The Lady Buffs are currently 20-2 and are winners of 11 straight. They are led in scoring by Chontiquah White, who sits at second in the Conference with an average of 17.5 points per game. This game will also pit the best rebounding team in the LSC, the Lions, with the best rebounding defense in the LSC, the Lady Buffs. WT routed the Lions 73-100 in their previous matchup.

The Texas A&M University – Commerce Lions women’s basketball team will host the West Texas A&M Lady Buffs on Saturday, Feb. 21 at 4 p.m. at the Field House.