AUSTIN – Huston-Tillotson University's women's basketball team picked up a big win at home Tuesday when the Rams defeated Texas A&M–San Antonio 68-65.
At HT's Branch Gymnasium, the Rams erased a five-point deficit by outscoring the visiting Jaguars 10-2 over the final three and a half minutes of the fourth quarter. The win gave Huston-Tillotson (9-11, 8-9 RRAC) a season split with the Jaguars, who won the first meeting of the season in San Antonio in overtime.
Three HT players scored turned in double-double performances for the Rams.
Summer Thomas scored a team-high 19 points and secured 10 rebounds, while
Wilashia Burleson scored 15 points and pulled in 17 caroms, a season individual high for rebounding by an HT player this season.
Aliyah Carter scored 11 points and grabbed 14 rebounds for the Rams. Her breakaway layup after getting through TAMUSA's pressure defense with three seconds remaining in the game secured the win for HT.
Evelyn Lorenzo scored a game-high 22 points to lead A&M–San Antonio (14-8, 11-7 RRAC), the fourth-place team in the Red River Athletic Conference.
With the win, the Rams pulled into a three-way tie for fifth place in the RRAC.
The Rams trailed 63-58 with 3:29 to play in the game before scoring six unanswered points – three baskets on four possessions, while forcing a turnover and two missed 3-point attempts from the Jaguars. Carter's jumper in the paint with a 1:02 remaining gave the Rams a one-point lead.
A&M–San Antonio then called a timeout and after running down the shot clock, got a layup from Natalia Trevino to regain the lead. The Rams then broke the Jaguar press and got a fast-break layup from Thomas, with
AaKiyah Sorrells assisting on the basket, shifting the lad back to HT with 27 seconds left in regulation.
The Jaguars went to Trevino on their next possession, who drew contact but not a foul from Carter with 13 seconds left. Thomas came away with the rebound, forcing TAMUSA to foul with seven seconds left.
Not yet in the bonus, the Rams inbounded from halfcourt, and Carter got behind the defense for an uncontested layup that essentially sealed the win. After a timeout and moving the ball to halfcourt, Lorenzo took a 3-point attempt that was blocked as time expired.
Sorrells,
Tyaija Coleman, and
Jade Hilliary scored six points apiece for the Rams.
The Rams return to action Saturday, Feb. 1, when they visit San Antonio to face Our Lady of the Lake. Tipoff at OLLU's Mabee Gymnasium is scheduled for 1 p.m.
– HT –
