ALPINE, Texas — Texas A&M International used a strong second half and a dominant performance on the glass to pull away from Sul Ross State, securing a 64–49 road win Thursday evening at the Pete P. Gallego Center.
The Dustdevils (10–7, 7–4 LSC) outscored the Lobos 39–24 over the final two quarters, turning a 25–25 halftime tie into a comfortable conference victory. TAMIU controlled the paint and the boards, finishing with a 71–42 rebounding advantage and a 38–22 edge in points in the paint.
Racheal Emmanuel scored 15 points with a game-high 17 rebounds, anchoring the Dustdevils inside and sparking several key second-chance opportunities. Jaela Wade added 15 points off the bench, while Dacia Jones chipped in nine points and 10 rebounds to give TAMIU multiple double-figure rebounders.
The game featured nine lead changes and nine ties in the first half, but TAMIU began to seize control in the third quarter, holding Sul Ross to just eight points while building momentum heading into the final frame. The Dustdevils then shot 47.4 percent in the fourth quarter to extend the lead to as many as 17 points late.
Sul Ross State (2–15, 1–10 LSC) was led by Leslie Mojica's 19 points, but the Lobos struggled from the field, shooting 26.5 percent overall and just 1-of-14 from three-point range.
TAMIU also found success off the bench, outscoring Sul Ross 28–6 in reserve points, and forced 22 turnovers on the defensive end.
The Dustdevils return to Lone Star Conference action on Saturday against Western New Mexico.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Racheal Emmanuel, Senior, comes to Laredo from Port Harcourt, Nigeria. She is the daughter of Lorah. She is pursuing her degree in Multidisciplinary Studies.
Emmanuel delivered a dominant all-around performance to lead Texas A&M International to its 64–49 road win at Sul Ross State. Emmanuel finished with 15 points and 17 rebounds, controlling the paint on both ends and creating multiple second-chance opportunities. Her presence inside helped TAMIU pull away in the second half as the Dustdevils outscored the Lobos 39–24 after halftime.
