CANYON, Texas – The #5 Lady Buffs of West Texas A&M connected on their first five shots from behind the arc and never looked back on Friday afternoon as they rolled past the visiting Dustdevils of Texas A&M-International, 89-63 during the first day of the Pak-A-Sak WT Thanksgiving Classic at the First United Bank Center in Canyon.
 
THE BASICS:
 - Score: #5 West Texas A&M 89, Texas A&M-International 63
 - Records: WT (4-0) / TAMIU (0-6)
 - Location: Canyon, Texas
 - Venue: First United Bank Center
 - Series (Streak): WT Leads 2-0 (W2)
 
LEADING THE WAY (Statistical Leaders):
 - Points: Madison Parker (WT, 19 Points), Zada Swoopes (WT, 17 Points), Jaden Gonzales (TAMIU, 17 Points)
 - Rebounds: Tiana Parker (WT, 8 Rebounds), Madison Parker (WT, 7 Rebounds), Tantashea Giger (TAMIU, 7 Rebounds), LaShae Rolle (TAMIU, 7 Rebounds)
 - Assists: Megan Gamble (WT, 5 Assists), Zada Swoopes (WT, 5 Assists)
 - Steals: Lexy Hightower (WT, 3 Steals), Zada Swoopes (WT, 3 Steals)
 - Blocks: Tyesha Taylor (WT, 4 Blocks)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- West Texas A&M was led offensively by Madison Parker who went a perfect 9-of-9 from the floor including 1-of-1 from deep for 19 points followed by Zada Swoopes with 17 and Tiana Parker with 10. Swoopes and Megan Gamble dished out five assists each while Tyesha Taylor registered four blocks.
- Jaden Gonzales led the way for the Dustdevils as the Plainview product went 6-of-12 from the floor and 5-of-7 from deep for 17 points followed by Tantashea Giger with 13 to go along with seven rebounds and foru assists.
 
FIRST HALF:
- The Lady Buffs went 17-of-31 (54.8%) from the field including 6-of-11 (54.5%) from behind the arc and 0-of-2 from the free throw line to go along with 25 rebounds (five offensive, 20 defensive), 15 assists, 13 turnovers, three blocks and four steals in the opening half.
- TAMIU finished up the first half going 9-of-35 (25.7%) from the field including 2-of-9 (22.2%) from deep and 6-of-8 (75%) from the charity stripe with 16 rebounds (six offensive, 10 defensive), five assists, seven turnovers, one block and five steals.
 
SECOND HALF:
- WT finished the game going 26-of-65 (55.4%) from the floor including 11-of-21 (52.4%) from deep and 6-of-14 (42.9%) from the free throw line with 41 rebounds (14 offensive, 27 defensive), 30 assists, 17 turnovers, five blocks and 10 steals.
- Texas A&M-International went 24-of-60 (40%) from the field including 7-of-17 (41.2%) from behind the arc and 8-of-12 (66.7%) from the free throw line with 30 rebounds (11 offensive, 19 defensive), 15 assists, 18 turnovers, two blocks and six steals.
 
UP NEXT:
The Lady Buffs return to action tomorrow afternoon as they host the ThunderWolves of Colorado State-Pueblo at 2:30 p.m. CT in the finale of the Pak-A-Sak WT Thanksgiving Classic in a rematch of last year's South Central Regional Semifinals.