Box Score SAN ANTONIO, Texas –Heartland Conference champion Texas A&M International entered a season-finale against one of its most tense regional and league rivals, St. Mary's, on Saturday in San Antonio. Regulation couldn't hold the game, as the Dustdevils eventually fell, 88-83, in overtime to the Rattlers.
Having already clinched the regular season, the Dustdevils (19-7, 15-5 Heartland) were essentially playing with hopes of climbing the NCAA Division II South Central Region rankings – where they entered the week as No. 5. The regional rankings remain important because only the postseason conference tournament winners clinch an automatic qualifier to the national tournament. To qualify as an at-large team, the Dustdevils would have to finish as one of the top eight schools in the region. That includes the three league champions, so just five spots are up for grabs if the team doesn't win the conference tournament.
The Dustdevils traveled well, fanning the flame between the rivals, with more than 85 fans loading a trio of charter buses for the game.
Against St. Mary's (18-8, 13-7 Heartland), the Dustdevils fought back from a deficit throughout the first half, eventually tying and trading slim leads with the hosts throughout the second half. TAMIU led by as many as five with just less than four minutes left in overtime before St. Mary's secured the victory.
Of TAMIU's seven total losses, three have come in overtime.
Despite the defeat, the Dustdevils saw a trio of players score 15 points apiece and two others finish with 12 points. Sophomore Jessica Prieto joined seniors Malika Jackson and Tina Dang with 15 ponts, while it was former Heartland Conference Player of the Week Samantha Chacon and senior Jessica Woo with 12.
Both Prieto and Chacon distributed a team-high five assists while Prieto pulled in six rebounds and Chacon grabbed three. Dang stole two balls on defense and snatched two rebounds; Woo rebound four shots with two assists, a blocked shot and two steals. Jackson grabbed eight boards and stuffed one shot.
Senior point guard Re'Nikia Meshack scored nine points in 18 minutes and Alexis Thomas scored five points with a team-high nine rebounds.
Dustdevils head coach Michelle Bento-Jackson is in her second season, having guided them to a 10-16 record in 2013. With this season's success, the school has now finished with a winning record twice in its history, with the other time in 2004 when the team competed in the NAIA.
The Dustdevils will next host the Heartland Conference Tournament on March 7-8 as the regular season champion and league's top seed at the Kinesiology and Convocation Building. The times of the tournament's games are yet to be determined.
