SAN ANTONIO – Huston-Tillotson University's women's basketball team was seconds away from a regulation victory before Texas A&M–San Antonio forced overtime Tuesday and ultimately prevailed 84-81.
Maya Simon's 3-pointer from the wing with less than two seconds remaining in regulation tied the score at 70-70 and necessitated the extra frame. The host Jaguars eventually built a five-point lead in the final minute overtime, which HT was unable to overcome.
Destiny Stanford scored a team-high 23 points for the Rams (5-4, 4-2 RRAC), who overcame a 10-point halftime deficit.
Wilashia Burleson scored 14 points and secured 11 rebounds for HT, while
Aliyah Carter chipped in 10 points.
Summer Thomas came off the HT bench to score 13 points and hand out three assists.
Texas A&M–San Antonio (8-2, 5-1 RRAC) was led by Natalia Treviño's 25 points. Simon added 21 points for the Jaguars.
The Rams scored 47 points in the second half and led by as many as nine points midway through the fourth quarter. TAMUSA eventually tied the game in the final minute before Stanford drained a go-ahead 3-pointer with 20 seconds remaining to give the Rams a 69-66 lead.
After TAMUSA's Emily Carranco made only one out of two free throws on the Jaguars' next possession, the Rams had a chance to put the game out of reach when Stanford was fouled on HT's ensuing possession. Stanford also made one out of two free throws to build the Ram lead to three points, which was erased with Simon's last-second shot.
Free throws proved to be HT's eventual downfall, as the Rams made only five of their 12 attempts in the fourth quarter.
The Rams scored the first basket overtime period, but the Jaguars seized control by scoring six unanswered points; HT was unable to erase the home team's lead in the final two minutes.
Tuesday's contest was the first-ever basketball game between Huston-Tillotson and Texas A&M–San Antonio. TAMUSA, which began its athletics program in Spring 2021, launched its basketball teams this season.
The Rams return to action Saturday when they host Our Lady of the Lake in a Red River Athletic Conference doubleheader with the HT men's team. The women tip off at 1 p.m. at HT's Branch Gymnasium.
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