COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Four Texas A&M International University players scored in double digits – including Jessica Woo, who recorded a double-double – in the Dustdevils finale at the University of Colorado Springs Thanksgiving Basketball Tournament on Saturday. Even that wasn't enough as the Dustdevils fell to host UCCS, 91-75.
"Obviously this was a road trip that didn't go the way we wanted it to," TAMIU head coach Michelle Bento-Jackson said. "During this tournament, we learned a lot more about our basketball team and we also learned athe areas we need to improve in.
"I will continue to challenge this team and I know they will respond by working hard to become the best basketball team they can be."
The defeat is just the second of the season for the Dustdevils as they fall to 4-2, and 1-2 on the road. TAMIU faces a pair of non-conference regional games before opening their Heartland Conference title defense with two more road games. They don't return to the TAMIU Kinesiology and Convocation Building until Jan. 1, 2015.
Against UCCS, the Dustdevils played well defensively with five steals and the forcing of 17 turnovers, but the Mountain Lions dominated off the boards. UCCS grabbed 44 rebounds and converted them into 20 second chance points, while TAMIU scored just 11 second chance points and grabbed 32 rebounds.
TAMIU shot just 38 percent from the field and 42 percent from long range. Jessica Prieto finished with 18 points and seven assists. Woo also scored 18 while also eating up 11 rebounds in 35 minutes. Keiona Matthews scored 15 points in 26 minutes and Chelsea Salom came off the bench to contribute 11 points in 27 minutes.
Stella Ghazarian scored eight points and Alexis Thomas finished with five to round out the Dustdevils scoring.
TAMIU next faces Eastern New Mexico in Portales, N.M., on Dec. 12 and then West Texas A&M on Dec. 14 before opening Heartland play at Lubbock Christian and Oklahoma Panhandle State on Dec. 18 and 20, respectively.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Adam Geigerman,
Sports Information Director and Promotions Specialist
956-326-3007
AdamS.Geigerman@TAMIU.edu
www.GoDustdevils.com
