Dustdevils Extend Best Start

TAMIU takes down UTPB on road

Box Score

(THIS STORY IS COURTESY OF THE LAREDO MORNING TIMES, AS PUBLISHED ON JAN. 3, 2014.)

ODESSA, Texas -- As the Texas A&M International women's basketball team continues its best start to a season in school history, it faced a familiar foe.

Last season's regular season Heartland Conference champions in Texas of the Permian Basin welcomed the Dustdevils to Odessa but weren't much of a threat as TAMIU remained unbeaten winning 68-47.

It was the school's fourth win of at least 16 points, something last season's team did just twice in 26 games.

The victory boosted the Dustdevils to a school record 10-2 this year while improving to 6-0 in conference play.

The program had never even started winning five straight before this season.

Meanwhile, the Falcons disastrous 2014 season continues.

After being the top team in the Heartland Conference and earning the No. 1 seed in the league tournament, the Falcons lost the tournament championship to St. Mary's at home 74-71.

Since that loss, UTPB has not been able to rebound this year losing nine of their 11 outings.

After posting an 11-1 conference record last season, the team is already 1-5 in league play.

While the team hadn't played in 12 days due to winter break since their 81-65 victory Arkansas-Fort Smith on Dec. 21, TAMIU didn't show signs of rust.

The Dustdevils came out swinging early dominating the first 10 minutes of the game on their way to taking a 24-9 lead.

The Falcons chipped away at the lead getting it down to as many as 10 before trailing 35-24 at halftime.

Despite coming off the bench, junior forward Jessica Woo had seven of those first 24 points on her way to leading the team in scoring with 15 points on 7-of-10 shooting while grabbing four rebounds.

It was the second consecutive game she led the team in scoring after going for 17 points in their last game against Arkansas-Fort Smith.

Along with her career-high 19 points against Texas A&M-Kingsville on Dec. 14, Woo is averaging 13.75 points per game off the bench the last four outings.

Seniors Samantha Chacon and Malika Jackson scored 13 points on their way to each scoring in double figures for the 10th time this season.

Both also excelled at facets of the game not normally had by their position.

Chacon, a guard, added a season-high eight rebounds while Jackson, a center, dished out a season-best seven assists.

Junior guard Alexis Thomas also had success in the paint grabbing nine rebounds while point guard Re'Nikia Meshack picked up eight boards.

After the break at the half, the Dustdevils scored seven of the first nine points putting the lead up to 42-26.

UTPB managed to get the lead down to 12 with 4:04 left before TAMIU scored eight unanswered and closed on an 11-2 run on its way to a 68-47 victory.

After clinching their sixth straight conference win, the Dustdevils will face one of its biggest tests of the season when play at Lubbock Christian on Jan. 4 at 1 p.m.

The Lady Chaps are also unbeaten in Heartland Conference play at 5-0 with a 9-1 overall record.

While LCU is one of four teams without a league loss, they are ineligible for the conference championship or postseason play as they still have provisional status from joining the Heartland Conference this year.

Follow @ZachDavisLMT on Twitter for the latest news on TAMIU athletics and other local sports.

E-mail: ZDavis@LMTOnline.com

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