LAREDO, Texas – Texas A&M International University women's basketball (7-12, 4-9 LSC) fell to the No. 21 West Texas A&M Lady Buffs (18-3, 11-1 LSC) at home by a score of 74-54 n Lone Star Conference action on Saturday afternoon.

In the tightly contested opening quarter, TAMIU erased an early 12-3 deficit by scoring seven-straight points that featured a Jaden Gonzales triple along with layups by Eva Langton and Nicole Heyn, respectively, to bring the Dustdevils within two points (12-10) at the 2:44 mark.

The Buffs ended up taking a 18-15 edge after the first period.

West Texas A&M put their foot on the gas in the second quarter and outscored the Dustdevils 24-10. Abby Spurgin registered 10 points in the period to send the 42-25 game into intermission.

In the fourth quarter, Heyn tried to lead a comeback for the Dustdevils by scoring the period's first seven points including a shot from beyond the arc to cut the Lady Buffs' lead to a dozen points (55-43) with 8:26 left in regulation. 

Although the Dustdevils tried to make a run, Mary Rose Foster dropped in a layup to give the Lady Buffs' lead to a game-high 22 points (72-50) with 1:29 remaining.
 
West Texas A&M ultimately settled the convincing 20-point (74-54) victory.

Heyn paced the Dustdevils by pouring in 21 points (7-of-12 FG) and went a perfect 3-of-3 from long distance. Gonzales registered season highs of 14 points (5-of-10 FG) and four three-pointers while Patrycja Jaworska nabbed a game-high four steals and a team-high four assists.

Tiana Parker compiled a double-double for the Lady Buffs of 11 points (5-of-7 FG) and 11 boards. Spurgin led all scorers with a game-high 25 points (7-of-11 FG, 11-of-12 FT).      
  
In the end, Texas A&M International shot 32.7 percent (16-of-49) from the field, 50 percent (8-of-16) from three-point range and 70 percent (14-of-20) from the free-throw line while the Lady Buffs shot 52.1 percent (25-of-48) from the floor, 38.9 percent (7-of-18) from beyond the arc and 73.9 percent (17-of-23) from the charity stripe. The Lady Buffs held the advantage in rebounds (32-20), blocks (8-0) and assists (21-10). The Dustdevils led the way in steals (10-8).

TAMIU will go back on the road for a LSC showdown on Thursday, January 30 and will take on Cameron (7-11, 6-6 LSC) at 5:30 p.m.