COMMERCE, Texas (Interstat) — Cora Horvath scored 21 points and Texas A&M-Commerce closed on a 9-2 run to edge Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 65-60 in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game Thursday afternoon at Texas A&M-Commerce Field House. The Lions, who improved to 7-6, trailed by one entering the fourth quarter. Horvath’s driving layup with 1:15 left gave Commerce a 63-60 lead it would not relinquish, aided by late free throws from Rezia Castillo. Torie Sevier led all scorers with 22 points for the Islanders, who fell to 2-11. Texas A&M-Commerce shot 12 for 30 from three-point range to overcome a 22-10 deficit in points in the paint. Attendance was 216.

COMMERCE, Texas (Interstat) — In a game defined by runs and resilience, the Texas A&M-Commerce Lions held off a late charge from the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders to secure a 65-60 victory in a Southland Conference women’s basketball matchup on Thursday afternoon at the Texas A&M-Commerce Field House. The Lions improved to 7-6 overall, while the Islanders fell to 2-11. The most critical sequence of the contest unfolded in the game’s final 25 seconds. With Commerce clinging to a 63-60 lead after a Torie Sevier jump shot for Corpus Christi, the Lions’ Rezia Castillo was fouled with 16 seconds remaining. The graduate student from Houston calmly sank both free throws, pushing the advantage to five points. On the ensuing possession, the Islanders’ Samora Watson was fouled on a three-point attempt with 11 seconds left, offering a chance to cut the deficit to a single possession. Watson missed the first free throw, however, and after making the second, the score stood at 65-61. A held ball on the intentional miss gave possession back to Commerce, which successfully ran out the clock to seal the win. The game was a tale of contrasting strengths. Commerce built its victory on the foundation of perimeter shooting and defensive rebounding. The Lions connected on 12 of 30 attempts from three-point range, a 40% clip, and were a near-perfect 11 of 12 from the free throw line. They also dominated the glass on the offensive end, grabbing 12 offensive rebounds which led to 12 second-chance points, and outrebounded Corpus Christi 42-31 overall. Corpus Christi countered with efficiency inside, scoring 22 points in the paint to Commerce’s 10, and forced 12 Lions turnovers, converting them into 16 points. The Islanders also shot a higher percentage from the field, hitting 43.8% of their shots compared to Commerce’s 35.6%. However, they were hampered by struggles at the free throw line, making only 12 of 23 attempts. Cora Horvath led all scorers for Texas A&M-Commerce, finishing with 21 points, including five three-pointers. Her sister, Nina Horvath, added 11 points and five rebounds. Reza Po contributed 13 points and four assists, while Alva Hedrich anchored the interior with a formidable 15-rebound, two-block performance. For Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Torie Sevier was a force, scoring 22 points and pulling down nine rebounds. Chelsea Wooten added 16 points and four assists, and Asha Walker chipped in nine points, all from beyond the arc. Commerce established control early, using a 9-0 run in the first quarter to take a 16-10 lead after one period. The Lions extended their advantage to 34-29 by halftime, largely on the strength of their three-point shooting. The Islanders stayed within striking distance throughout the third quarter, trailing 47-41 heading into the final frame. A 7-2 run by Corpus Christi to open the fourth quarter, capped by an Asha Walker three-pointer, cut the Commerce lead to 52-50 with 6:47 to play. The Lions responded with key baskets from Po and Hedrich to rebuild a six-point cushion. The Islanders made one final push, closing to within 63-60 on Sevier’s late jumper, but the Lions’ composure at the free throw line in the closing moments proved decisive. Texas A&M-Commerce will look to build on the conference win when it hosts Texas-Rio Grande Valley on Saturday. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi continues its road trip at Northwestern State on Saturday.

Islanders, Lions Meet in Southland Conference Clash COMMERCE, Texas (Interstat) — A pair of Texas A&M System schools will meet on the hardwood Thursday when the Texas A&M-Commerce Lions host the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders in a Southland Conference women’s basketball game. The Lions (6-6) enter at .500 overall and are looking to build momentum after a 72-63 road victory at New Orleans on Saturday. Commerce has shown resilience at home, posting notable wins over Stephen F. Austin and Texas Southern this season. The Islanders (2-10) are seeking a turnaround after dropping their conference opener at Texas-Rio Grande Valley, 58-47, last Saturday. Corpus Christi’s two wins this season came against New Orleans and an exhibition. A key matchup will feature two of the conference’s top performers. For Commerce, forward Tiani Ellison is coming off a dominant 23-point, 10-rebound double-double in the win over New Orleans. She has scored in double figures in four of her last five games, including a 21-point effort against Texas Southern. Corpus Christi will counter with guard Asha Walker, who erupted for 21 points in just 25 minutes in the Islanders’ 85-54 rout of New Orleans on Dec. 31. She leads the team in scoring during conference play. The Lions have relied on a balanced attack, with Nina Horvath pouring in 24 points and Reza Po adding 14 points and eight assists in their last outing. For the Islanders, Samora Watson provided a bright spot with 15 points in the loss to UTRGV. Historically, the Lions have defended their home court well at the Texas A&M-Commerce Field House. The Islanders, however, will aim to replicate their high-scoring performance from their last victory as they continue a challenging stretch of conference road games. Tip-off is set for Thursday night. Commerce will host Texas-Rio Grande Valley on Saturday, while Corpus Christi travels to face Northwestern State.