Box Score LAREDO, Texas – With just seven games remaining in the regular season, Texas A&M International built a 2-game lead within the Heartland Conference after defeating Newman, 60-38, on Saturday at the TAMIU Kinesiology and Convocation Building.
The victory gives the Dustdevils (15-4, 11-2 Heartland) a little breathing room as they head on the road to next face Arkansas-Fort Smith (6-14, 6-8 HC) and provisional member Rogers State (7-14, 4-11 HC). St. Mary's (14-5, 9-4 HC) and St. Edward's (13-5, 8-4 HC) are tied in second place with four losses apiece.
Against Newman, the Dustdevils were held tight in the first half, entering the break with just a five-point lead. But the second half saw them build as much as a 24-point lead while scoring 60 points. They held the Jets to just 18 second-half points.
Four of the Dustdevils starting five scored in double digits, led by Malika Jackson's 15-point, 13-rebound double-double. She also had two assists and three steals while playing all but a minute of the game.
Jessica Prieto – a transfer from NCAA Division I Mercer – scored 14 points while assisting five other times. She also played all 40 minutes and made two steals and three rebounds. Former Heartland Conference Player of the Week Samantha Chacon hit 11 points, had two rebounds and an assist. Alexis Thomas scored 10 points and made seven rebounds while adding two steals, a block and an assist.
Tina Dang scored seven points and made three rebounds while playing 25 minutes.
Bezait Anbesse scored two points and Jessica Woo scored one.
The first-place Dustdevils will play next at UAFS on Feb. 6 at 5:30 p.m.
