LAREDO, Texas — No. 11 West Texas A&M pulled away in the second half to defeat Texas A&M International 74-54 on Saturday afternoon at the Kinesiology Building.

The Dustdevils (12-12, 9-9 Lone Star Conference) kept pace early, closing the first quarter tied at 16-16 and battling to a five-point deficit at halftime, 38-33. TAMIU controlled the paint and matched the Lady Buffs on the glass through the opening 20 minutes.

West Texas A&M (24-3, 16-2 LSC) seized control in the third quarter, outscoring the Dustdevils 19-12 to build a double-digit advantage. The Lady Buffs closed the game with a 17-9 fourth quarter, capitalizing on transition opportunities and perimeter shooting to secure the 20-point win.

Racheal Emmanuel led TAMIU with 10 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double. Bridgette Tello added 10 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists, while Taylor Jacobson also scored 10 points.

The Dustdevils held a 36-32 edge in points in the paint and matched the Lady Buffs in second-chance points, but struggled from beyond the arc, shooting 1 of 9 (11.1%). West Texas A&M connected on 10 3-pointers and shot 44.6% from the field.

TAMIU returns to Lone Star Conference play next week.

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 turned in a gritty double-double performance to lead the Dustdevils, finishing with 10 points and a team-high 11 rebounds. Emmanuel was active on both ends of the floor, battling inside for offensive boards and anchoring TAMIU's presence in the paint. Her effort on the glass helped the Dustdevils stay competitive early and match West Texas A&M in second-chance opportunities.