SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Texas A&M International women's basketball matched its program best start to a season, improving to 8-1 overall, with a 56-46 victory over St. Mary's.
 
The Dustdevils (8-1, 0-0 LSC) jumped ahead early in the first quarter, using an 8-0 run over the opening 2:28. However, the Rattlers (0-10, 0-0 LSC) countered with a 9-0 run to take a 9-8 lead with 4:30 remaining.
 
Both teams bounced back-and-forth the remainder of the quarter and were tied 15-15 going into the second.
 
TAMIU dominated the second quarter, outscoring St. Mary's 12-3 to take a 27-18 lead into the locker room. The defensive quarter saw the Dustdevils make just one shot the first 5:18 and the Rattlers made one shot the whole quarter that came at 4:17.
 
The third and fourth quarters were extremely even, as the third quarter was 14-14 and the fourth saw TAMIU take a slight 15-14 edge.
 
St. Mary's cut the deficit to just three in the third, but the Dustdevils surged to hold a double digit lead the majority of the fourth.
 
The Dustdevils finished the night shooting just 32.7% (16-for-49) and 3-for-22 from deep as the shots just didn't fall on the afternoon. The free-throw line was solid yet again for TAMIU, shooting 21-for-28 in the contest.
 
On the other side, the TAMIU defense was exceptional, limiting the Rattlers to just 28.3% (17-for-60) from the floor and 6-for-24 from behind the arc. St. Mary's only attempted nine free throws, capitalizing on six.
 
Despite being outrebounded 47-33, the Dustdevils won the turnover battle 22-16 and the bench was a factor, outscoring the Rattlers 19-2.
 
TAMIU had three players in double figures with sophomore's Rai Brown and Clara Fernandez leading the way with 11 points each.
 
Brown added eight rebounds, two steals and a block, while Fernandez chipped in seven rebounds, three assists and a steal.
 
Freshman Silvia Blanco scored 10 points off the bench for TAMIU, alongside four rebounds, two steals and an assist.
 
The Dustdevils now have the Christmas break ahead of them and return to the floor on Wednesday, Dec. 29. TAMIU will face Texas A&M-Texarkana in the Dallas Christian College Christmas Classic in Dallas, Texas. Opening tip is scheduled for 12 p.m.