Box ScoreSeason StatsCOMMERCE, Texas – Down by a season-high 14 points in the early stages of the third quarter, West Texas A&M senior
Zantaya Davis hit a turnaround jumper at the buzzer as the No. 8 Lady Buffs roared back for a thrilling 69-67 win at Texas A&M-Commerce Wednesday evening.
With the game tied at 67 following a shot clock violation on TAMUC, WT used the new half court inbounds rule implemented this season as junior
Sasha Watson took the ball out next to the Lady Buff bench. She passed to senior
Zantaya Davis who hit a turnaround jumper as time expired for the game winner at 69-67.
Out of a timeout by TAMUC, the Lady Buffs got the ball back with a partially blocked shot with 45 seconds left down three. Senior
Michaela Neuhaus hit a contested triple to tie the game at 67 with 30 seconds left. TAMUC called a timeout with 21.4 seconds left and 20 on the shot clock as it ran the clock down to 1.4 before the violation. WT closed the game on an 8-0 run.
For the game, WT (17-1, 6-1 LSC) shot 44.8 percent for the game on 26 of 58. The Lady Buffs were 6 of 17 from beyond the arc (.353) and 11 of 14 from the line. WT had three players in double figures led by 16 points from Watson as she was 6 of 13 from the field with one triple and 3 of 3 from the line with a team-high seven rebounds. Neuhaus added 13 points on 5 of 10 from the field with two big triples and one free throw, while Davis had 13 points off the bench on 5 of 9 from the field with three blocks and three steals.
TAMUC (9-8, 3-3 LSC) shot 46.3 percent for the game as it opened 15 of 29 from the field in the first half for 51.7 percent and were held to 10 of 25 in the second. It was the first time this season WT has allowed a team to shoot over 40 percent for a game. The Lions were 25 of 54 for the game and were 5 of 12 from beyond the arc. TAMUC was 12 of 16 from the line and tallied 35 rebounds. Princess Davis had a team-high 14 points on 5 of 8 from the field with one triple and three free throws leading three players in double figures.
The game saw seven lead changes and three times tied. WT led for just 10:36, but the final 1.4 seconds is what mattered. TAMUC led for 26:39 and the game was tied for 2:19.
In the first half, WT jumped out to a 13-6 lead on a layup from junior
Sasha Watson with 4:39 left in the first quarter. From there, Commerce got hot and the Lady Buffs started missing shots they usually make as TAMUC finished the quarter on a 7-3 run as sophomore
Madison Parker buried a triple at the top of lane for the only field goal for the Lady Buffs in the remainder of the quarter as WT led 16-15.
In the second quarter the Lions continued hot from the field as Shomari Harris stole the ball and scored for a 17-16 lead as it was the first lead for TAMUC since 2-0. That prompted the Lions to outscore the Lady Buffs 21-7 in the second quarter for a 36-23 lead at intermission. Since the 4:39 mark in the first quarter, TAMUC outscored WT 30-10. WT went just 3 of 11 from the field in the second quarter.
For the half, WT shot 10 of 29 from the field for a 34.5 average. The Lady Buffs were 2 of 6 from beyond the arc and 1 of 2 from the line. The shorter Lions dominated the glass, 20-12 and, uncharacteristically for a WT team, led in points in the paint 16-8. Seven WT miscues led to an 11-8 lead in points off turnover for the Lions. Watson led the way with six points for the Lady Buffs and had six rebounds.
TAMUC was led by 11 points from Princess Davis on 4 of 4 from the field with a triple and two free throws. The Lions shot 51.7 percent from the field on 15 of 29. They were 4 of 9 from beyond the arc and 2 of 3 from the line.
This marked the third consecutive road game WT had trailed at halftime and the largest halftime deficit of the season with the previous being 10 points at Angelo State a week ago. The 13-point deficit also tied the largest of the season also at Angelo State last week.
One of two free throws for Davis gave TAMUC a 52-38 lead with 6:46 left in the third as the Lions pushed the lead back to a season-high 14 points. From there, WT used a 7-0 run for a 52-45 deficit on a layup from Davis early in the fourth quarter. Neuhaus hit a triple giving WT a 56-54 lead with 7:15 left for the Lady Buffs' first lead since the first quarter. Since the 6:46 mark of the third quarter, WT outscored TAMUC 18-2 run sparking the comeback.
TAMUC regained the lead with a bucket at 57-56 with 6:11 left. Senior
Madison McLain buried a triple in transition for a 59-57 lead with 5:19 left and a timeout by the Lady Buffs.
Two free throws from Khala Riley put TAMUC up 61-59 with under four minutes left. Amari Jones scored for a 65-61 lead with 2:45 left for the Lions. Jones then added two free throws for a 67-61 lead with 2:06 remaining.
Watson and the Lady Buffs again needed a comeback down six as she earned the "and one" for a 67-64 deficit with 1:46 left. Senior
Zantaya Davis, who had a huge second half, got a steal with 1:27 remaining. An offensive foul nullified a scoring opportunity, however.
The Lady Buffs return home to host Tarleton State Saturday at 2 p.m. at the First United Bank Center. It'll be the first of three-straight home games for the Lady Buffs.
