Box Score ABILENE, Texas – Texas A&M International chiseled its signature into the history books on Saturday, clinching a program-first Heartland Conference regular-season championship with an 86-59 victory over McMurry at Kimbrell Arena. The Dustdevils victory, paired with second-place St. Edward's loss on Saturday, cements the Dustdevils as the 2014 Heartland Conference Tournament hosts on March 7-8.
The winner of the postseason tournament – featuring the conference's top four full-member finishers – will guarantee itself an automatic qualification to the NCAA Division II Tournament, beginning with the regional round.
This year has been one of acclaim and achievement for the Dustdevils (19-6, 15-4 Heartland Conference). They were ranked No. 5 in the year's first South Central Regional Rankings, released on Feb. 20, to stand as the Heartland's highest ranked team. They have received votes in several USA Today Coaches Polls, sitting right on the fringe of the nation's top 25 teams. And TAMIU is one game away from closing its first-ever winning season – after competing in the NCAA since the 2007-08 season.
All of that success comes in head coach Michelle Bento-Jackson's second year leading the program. In her first year, the Dustdevils fell a heart-bursting game short of finishing in fourth place and qualifying for the conference tournament.
This year, there was no doubt.
In the clinching game, TAMIU was fittingly led by its trio of seniors: four-year starting guard Samantha Chacon and a pair of junior college transfers in Tina Dang and Malika Jackson. The trio combined for 57 points over an average of 29 minutes – with Dang coming off the bench.
Chacon, former Heartland Freshman of the Year and two-time Player of the Week this season, scored a game-high 22 points with five assists, a stuffed shot and three steals. She produced a perfect performance at the free throw line, going 6-for-6. She shot 66.7 percent from long range and pulled in four rebounds – all offensive.
Jackson scored 19 points – including 3-for-3 from the charity stripe – with a pair of steals, an assist and seven boards. Dang shot a smoldering 83 percent from the field – including a 3-for-4 day from the 3-point arc and 3-for-3 from the line – to finish with 16 points. She pulled in a pair of rebounds – both offensive – and produced three assists and two steals.
While the seniors scored the big point totals, junior guard Alexis Thomas was a rebound machined – pulling in a game-high 11. She also scored six points and dished an assist in 26 minutes. Her rebounds led directly to the Dustdevils' 18 second-chance points. In comparison, the War Hawks scored just six second-chance points.
Sophomore Jessica Prieto scored 10 points with eight helpers and a steal. The Laredo, Texas, native also snatched seven rebounds to finish just two assists and three boards short of a triple-double.
Starting point guard Re'Nikia Meshack finished with seven points, two rebounds and a steal. Both Mason Hawk and Jessica Woo finished with three points – both coming off long-range firings.
TAMIU led by as many as 29 points in the game.
The regular season finale will come against TAMIU's South Texas rival, St. Mary's, on March 1 at 1 p.m. The Dustdevils Department of Athletics is sending a Fan Bus to San Antonio for the game, with the travel package and game tickets costing only $10 for students with valid TAMIU OneCards and $20 for general admission. Fans can sign up at https://secure.touchnet.com/C20208_ustores/web/store_main.jsp?STOREID=46.
The Heartland Conference Tournament will come to Laredo and be played on March 7-8 at the TAMIU Kinesiology and Convocation Building, with official game times and competitors to be determined.
