SAN ANGELO, Texas –  A double-double from West Texas A&M senior Lilley Vander Zee with 19 points and 11 rebounds highlighted three Lady Buffs in double figures and a furious comeback fell short in the final minute at No. 22 Angelo State hung on for a 68-66 win Saturday afternoon at the Junell Center.  With the loss, the Lady Buffs' seven-game winning streak came to an end as they fell to 20-7 overall and 13-5 in Lone Star Conference play, while Angelo State improved to 19-4 and 14-4 in league play taking sole possession of second place with two games remaining in the regular season. 

Vander Zee recorded her second double-double of the season on seven of 11 from the field and five of six from the line with 11 rebounds.  The 19 points by Vander Zee tied her career-high set versus Texas A&M-International Nov. 28, 2015.  Senior Sasha Watson added 16 points on seven of 16 from the field, with two free throws, six assists and two steals.  Watson moved into a tie for eighth all-time in school history in steals with 210 tying Joni Unruh (2007-2010).  Watson now has 1,241 points as she needs just five points to tie former Lady Buff Courtney Lee (2005-2009) for 13^th all-time in scoring at 1,246 points.  Senior Alie Decker added 11 points and a career-high nine rebounds with three triples in the game.

As a team, the Lady Buffs struggled shooting and turnovers were a key factor in the game as well.  WT shot just 40.3 percent from the field as it entered the game shooting just under 50 percent from the field for the season.  WT was 25 of 62 from the field, five of 14 from beyond the arc and 11 of 14 from the line.  WT held a 40-38 lead in rebounding, but 17 turnovers led to the Rambelles outscoring WT 16-9 in points off turnovers.

WT held ASU to just 22 of 62 from the field for a 35.5 average.  ASU made six triples and went to the stripe, 22 times, making 18, for another key factor in the contest.  Christiana Robinson had 14 points for the Rambelles as did Madi Greenwood off the bench as she drained 11 points in the first half.    KeAnna Kelly added 10 points for the Rambelles as ASU now won back-to-back games in San Angelo in the series.

WT trailed most of the game and was down 42-30 at halftime, but roared back in the second half as the team shot eight of ten from the line in the second half, after being three of four in the entire first half.   Watson turned up the pressure in the second half for 12 points after having just four in the first.

The Lady Buffs trailed 61-60 for from the seven-minute mark in the fourth quarter after trailing by as much as 12 in the game.  Neither team could score until Robinson buried a triple with 3:55 left for a 64-60 lead off a steal.  WT continued to fight and Watson, once again, pulled WT within one at 65-64 with 2:23 left.  Vander Zee scored inside with under two minutes to go for the first Lady Buff lead since the first half at 66-65.  

The lead was short-lived, however, Lexi Murphy buried a triple for the final margin at 68-66 with 1:38 left.  The final 1:38 was not without its own action as Vander Zee got an offensive rebound after a missed shot with 1:02 left and a fresh 30, but a WT turnover followed with 47 seconds left.  ASU missed at the other end as Decker cleared the rebound.  Watson, setting the offense with six seconds left, made a jump stop in the lane, but was called for steps. 

Out of a timeout by ASU, junior Syndey Walton stole the inbounds pass and drove to bucket, but her shot was too hard caroming off the iron as time expired. 

The Lady Buffs return home to host the final two games of the regular season, next Thursday and Saturday at the First United Bank Center.  WT will look to avenge earlier losses to Texas A&M-Commerce on Thursday in a battle for third place in the league standings.  Saturday is Senior Day against Tarleton State as the game, picked as the NCAA Division II Showcase Flex Game, and scheduled for broadcast on American Sports Network.

Check back with www.gobuffsgo.com for information on purchasing tickets for both games and links to watch the games.  Come support the Lady Buffs in a pair of huge LSC games to end the regular season.