LAS VEGAS, N.M.  – Texas A&M International University women's basketball (2-2) won its second-straight game by a score of 98-71 over the New Mexico Highlands Cowgirls (0-3) on Tuesday evening.

The Cowgirls registered the first seven points of the game including five points scored by Ashley Antone. 

TAMIU responded by scoring the final 10 points of the opening quarter. Christine Ortega was responsible for half of those points that featured a pair of free throws and a shot from long distance that slice the Dustdevils' deficit to one after the first quarter (16-15). 

In the opening 54 seconds of the second period, Gulten Altunbulak and Josselin Geer knocked down back-to-back three-pointers to give the Dustdevils a five-point edge (21-16) and kick off what would be a 34-point second quarter. 

TAMIU would then use a 14-2 run from 6:46-4:11 that was highlighted by shots from downtown by Eva Langton and Clara Fernandez to build their lead to 18 (40-22). 

The Dustdevils would ultimately take a 49-32 lead heading into the break. 

In the third stanza, TAMIU extended its lead to 23 (74-51) and closed out the quarter by scoring the last seven points including five points scored by Ortega including a three-pointer to beat the buzzer. 

The Dustdevils closed out the convincing 27-point victory with five points by Lindsey Thorpe. 

Ortega went 8-of-10 from the field en route to setting career highs in points (22) and assists (six) while also grabbing six rebounds. Ortega was one of five double-digit scorers for the Dustdevils that included Geer (18), Langton (11), Patrycja Jaworska (11) and Fernandez (10). 

Jordyn Lewis put together team highs of 22 points (7-of-15 FG, 7-of-7 FT) and six assists while Ashley Antone recorded a double-double of 12 points and 10 boards. 
    
In the end, Texas A&M International shot 55.6 percent (35-of-63) from the field, 50 percent (14-of-28) from three-point range and 70 percent (14-of-20) from the free-throw line while New Mexico Highlands shot 46.2 percent (24-of-52) from the floor, 27.8 percent (5-of-18) from beyond the arc and 75 percent (18-of-24) from the charity stripe. The Dustdevils held the advantage in blocks (3-0), assists (25-17) and steals (16-12) while the Cowgirls led the way in rebounds (32-30).

TAMIU begins Lone Star Conference play on the road on Thursday, Nov. 21 and will take on UAFS (2-0) at 5:30 p.m.