CANYON, Texas – Emily Avila's penalty was the difference on Saturday afternoon as No. 21 West Texas A&M defeated Texas A&M-Commerce 3-2 at the Pitch. The Lady Buffs improve to 6-2-0 overall and 2-1-0- in Lone Star Conference in what could be the final meeting between the two programs. 
 
The Lady Buffs controlled most of the possession in the opening 15 minutes before Reagan Matacale scored her fourth of the season in the 18^th minute off a free kick. The second-year freshman caught the Lion defense sleeping on Avila's ball into the box as she headed the ball past the outstretched arms of Jen Peters. 
 
WT continued to push numbers forward as Asha James and Hannah Kelley-Lusk saw their shots saved in the 20^thminute. A minute later, Avila powered one of the crossbar and out of bounds. 
 
James would become the second Lady Buff to hit the woodwork in the opening minutes in the second half as her shot from distance ricocheted off the crossbar. A&M-Commerce would tie the game at 1-all in the 53^rd minute when Karalie Morrison got on the end of Skylar Sorrell's cross. 
 
WT would retake the lead in the 56^th minute on James' seventh goal of the season. Maliyah Mendoza created space before leaving the ball for James, who powered it into the top corner of the net. James would have another chance two minutes later but her left-footed shot to the near post was saved by Peters. 
 
A&M-Commerce would find an equalizer in het 83^rd minute on Morrison's second of the game. The freshman found space from 20 yards out and put the ball just under the crossbar to make it 2-2 with less than 10 minutes remaining in regulation. 
 
Avila would score the game-winner in the 85^th minute after the referee awarded the Lady Buffs a penalty for handball. The junior stepped up the spot for the first time since 2019 and calmly converted to put the Lady Buffs up 3-2. 
 
Reagan Heelan made her fourth and final save in the 88th on Leslie Campuzano's free kick to give the Lady Buffs their seventh straight win the series. 
 
The Lady Buffs finish their three-game home stand on Wednesday, Oct. 6, with a Rivalry on the Range showdown against Lubbock Christian. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.