Rams take down North American (Texas) 71-53

AUSTIN – There was no post-Thanksgiving fatigue for Huston-Tillotson University's women's basketball team Saturday as the Rams claimed a 71-53 win at home over North American (Texas).
 
At HT's Branch Gymnasium, Destiny Stanford scored 14 points to lead five Ram players in double-figures. Aliyah Carter chipped in 12 points, as did Danielle Porter, who also blocked four shots.
 
Wilashia Burleson scored 11 points for the Rams (5-3, 4-1 RRAC), while Summer Thomas came off the HT bench and added 10 points.
 
Elisa Peralta and Maurdaisha Powell scored 16 points apiece to lead North American (3-5, 1-4 RRAC).
 
The Rams were the stronger team for three of the game's four quarters as they outscored North American by 30 points over the first, third, and fourth periods. HT sizzled at the start, shooting 10-of-17 (59 percent) from the field as the Rams built a 24-13 first quarter lead.
 
The visiting Stallions erased HT's advantage in the second quarter as they held the Rams to 21.4 percent (3 of 14) shooting from the field during that period. North American climbed back into the game thanks to 14 trips to the free throw line in the period, making 13 of those attempts.
 
The visitors were ready prepared to take a four-point lead into halftime after Peralta made two free throws with a little more than a second left in the first half, but HT seized momentum when Gabby Cantu drained a desperation heave from three-quarters' length of the court. The long toss from in front of the HT bench cut North American's lead to 34-33.
 
HT reclaimed the lead for good 10 seconds into the third quarter when Tyaija Coleman knocked down a 3-pointer from the corner. The Rams scored eight of the first 11 points of the third quarter and led 44-36 with six minutes remaining in the period.
 
The Stallions ran out of gas in the fourth quarter as they shot only 17.6 percent (3 of 17) in the game's final period.
 
KEY POINTS
• HT snapped a two-game losing streak to the Stallions, who swept last season's Red River Athletic Conference series.
• 3-pointers finally started going in for the Rams, who shot 36.4 percent (8 of 22) from behind the arc Saturday. The Rams had made less than 6 percent (4 of 69) of their 3-point attempts in their four previous home games.
• The Rams' 43 percent (25 of 58) shooting and 15 assists Saturday also marked season-bests in home games. Stanford and Carter tallied four assists apiece.
 
UP NEXT
The Rams travel to Texas A&M–San Antonio on Tuesday, Dec. 3, for the team's first-ever matchup with the Jaguars. A&M–San Antonio's basketball teams debuted this season, less than four years after the school added varsity athletics. Tipoff for the women's game is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.

– HT –