Box Score LAREDO (February 21) – The TAMIU women’s basketball team fought off a late game surge by Oklahoma Christian University, hanging on to edge the Eagles 70-68 Thursday night at the TAMIU KCB. 
 
Leading by seven points with just over two minutes remaining in the game, the Dustdevils missed the front end of three straight one-and-one free throw attempts allowing the eagles to trim the lead down to two.  Katy O’Steen had an open look for three at the buzzer, but the shot clanged off the back iron sending the Dustdevils to their tenth win of the season.
 
TAMIU remains in sole possession of fourth place in the conference standings with a 5-6 conference record, half a game ahead of Newman University.  The Dustdevils have one conference game remaining against St. Mary’s University next week, while the Jets must still face Arkansas Fort Smith and St. Edward’s.  A win by TAMIU next Thursday over the Rattlers or a Newman loss in one of their final two conference games will guarantee the Dustdevils at least a tie for the final spot heading into the postseason.
 
The Eagles led 42-38 at the break after shooting the lights out in the opening 20 minutes.  OCU shot 50 percent (13-26) from the field and 66.7 percent (8-12) from the beyond the arc in the first period and got 14 points from Sydney Hill who was a perfect 6-of-6 from the field including four three pointers.
 
TAMIU was equally impressive in the opening frame, knocking down knocking down 46.9 percent (15-of-32) of their shots from the field, as well as 50 percent (6-of-12) of their three point attempts.  Tina Dang matched Hill nearly shot-for-shot, scoring 14 points on 5-of-6 shooting also with four three’s. 
 
Trailing by seven with 8:05 remaining in the first half, Re'Nikia Meshack sliced through the Eagles defense in back-to-back trips down the floor scoring four straight to pull TAMIU within three at 24-21.  After two OCU free throws, Dang knocked down a three and added a layup on the Dustdevils’ next possession to tie the game at 26.  Five times before the half expired the Dustdevils were able to pull within a point, but each time the Eagles answered with a bucket including an NBA-range three at the buzzer to give OCU a four-point lead heading into the locker room.
 
In the second half TAMIU turned up the defense, holding the Eagles to just 25.8 percent (8-of-31) shooting from the field and just 13.3 percent (2-of-15) from three-point range.  After scoring 14 in the first 20 minutes, Hill was held to just two points on 1-of-5 shooting in the final frame.
 
Samantha Chacon stepped up her game as well, scoring 11 second half points on 4-of-6 shooting.  Late in the period Chacon scored five straight and Dang added a three to give the Dustdevils a 64-58 lead.  After Logan McKee ended the run with a three, TAMIU answered with four straight to take a seven point lead, 70-63.
 
With 2:19 remaining, TAMIU scored their final bucket of the game on a well-timed pass from Chacon to Rosebud Guthrie for an easy layup.  O’Steen connected on a jumper to cut the lead to five and after a turnover and a missed free throw by the Dustdevils, Roz Hamilton hit one-of-two free throws to make it a four point game 70-66.  After another missed free throw attempt by TAMIU, Hill scored her only points of the half on a put-back to make it a two-point game.  Amanda Mangan went to the line with a chance to give the Dustdevils some breathing room, but again failed to convert.  After a 30-second timeout O’Steen got a good look from near the baseline with two seconds left, but the shot missed by just a few inches to give TAMIU the 70-68 win.
 
Dang finished the game with a game-high 22 points going a perfect 6-for-6 from three-point range and Chacon added 19 points and six assists.  Meshack added nine points and six assists, while Malika Jackson and Guthrie finished with identical stat lines with eight points and five rebounds apiece.
 
Roz Hamilton had a big night for the Eagles scoring 20 points and grabbing a game-high 18 rebounds, while Hill kicked in 16, Logan McKee had 13, and Katy O’Steen added 11.
 
TAMIU will take Saturday off before returning to the court next Saturday for their final regular season game of the year.  The Dustdevils will host St. Mary’s University at the TAMIU KCB at 5:30.