TAMUC – Sports

 

WOMEN’S GOLF

Lion women finish in fourth place at Lion Invitational at Tanglewood.

POTTSBORO – The Texas A&M University-Commerce women’s golf team completed the 2018 Lion Invitational in fourth place, improving by 14 strokes from the opening round of the tournament, which was at Tanglewood Resort on the shores of Lake Texoma.

Lauren Leslie earned all-tournament honors with a fifth-place finish. She shot 81 in each of the two rounds for a 162 (+18). It is her second top-five finish of the season.

Sophie-Charlott Hempel shot the Lions’ best round of the tournament at 6-over par 78 on Tuesday, which tied for the field’s best round of the day. Hempel placed 15th with a two-day score of 168 (90-78, +24).

Lauren Bentley and Lexi Bubenchik tied for 20th at 176 (+32). Bentley shot an 85 on Tuesday, followed by Bubenchik with an 89. Makena Thomas rounded out the team contingent in 28th place at 181.

Competing as an individual, Paige-Lee Garris placed in the top 10 at ninth place with a 165 (+21), improving by four strokes from the first round. Emily White placed 20th at 176, and Christen Simons placed 25th at 178.

Angelo State won the tournament at 645, followed by Tyler Junior College at 652, Western Texas College at 659, and A&M-Commerce at 680.

The Lions are back on the course next week at the Midwestern State Invitational. Action at the Wichita Falls Country Club will take place on Monday, March 12, and Tuesday, March 13.

Rank	Team	Scores		Total	Par
1.	Angelo State	321	324	645	+69
2.	Tyler JC	335	317	652	+76
3.	Western Texas College	330	329	659	+83
4.	A&M-COMMERCE	347	333	680	+104
5.	UT Tyler	352	341	693	+117
6.	Ranger College	371	360	731	+155
7.	Houston-Victoria	372	379	751	+175
8.	Jacksonville College	413	404	817	+241

A&M-Commerce	347	333	680	+104	4th
Lauren Leslie	81	81	162	+18	t-5th
Paige-Lee Garris #	84	81	165	+21	t-9th
Sophie-Charlott Hempel	90	78	168	+24	15th
Lauren Bentley	91	85	176	+32	t-20th
Lexi Bubenchik	87	89	176	+32	t-20th
Emily White #	85	91	176	+32	t-20th
Christen Simons #	89	89	178	+34	25th
Makena Thomas	89	92	181	+37	28th

 

SOFTBALL

Jameyson repeats as LSC Hitter of the Week, Dean named LSC Pitcher of the Week.

RICHARDSON– Texas A&M University-Commerce softball players Mariah Jameyson and Katie Dean have been named the Lone Star Conference Players of the Week. Jameyson awarded Hitter of the Week, and Dean was named Pitcher of the Week. The awards were announced Tuesday by the conference office. It is the second week in a row Jameyson has been named Hitter of the Week and the fourth Lion in five weeks to win the award. Dean is the second Lion pitcher to be awarded Pitcher of the Week this season.

After one of the most historic weeks in Lion Softball history last week, Jameyson managed to improve her numbers this week against a nationally ranked opponent. The senior from Seattle, Wash. increased her batting average, on-base percentage and hit total against the No. 18 Cameron Aggies. She hit .875 with a .923 on-base percentage and a 2.125 slugging percentage. She reached base 12 of 13 times, drawing five walks to go with her seven hits, and had three home runs and nine RBIs. She hit a three-run homer in the first game of the series and also had a 2 RBI-single in the 10th inning. That gave the Lions, No. 21, the extra-inning 8-6 win on Friday. She had another three-run home run, a double and a solo home run in the second game of the series, driving in four runs in the Lions’ 11-3 win. She then reached base all three at-bats in the third game of the series with two singles and a walk.

Jameyson leads all of Division II in RBIs (35) and is in the top 20 in the nation in batting average (.551), on-base percentage (.641), slugging percentage (1.102) and total bases (54). She leads the LSC in RBIs, batting average and on-base percentage. In her last 25 plate appearances, Jameyson has 11 runs scored, 13 hits, seven home runs, 21 RBIs, 35 total bases and nine walks. She has reached on 23 of her last 25 plate appearances with a .867 batting average, a .920 on-base percentage and a 2.333 slugging percentage.

Dean – a junior from Whitesboro – was a tuff pitcher to handle for opposing batters last week, holding hitters to a .130 average. She went 2-0 last week for the No. 21 Lions in their series against No. 18 Cameron. She gave up just three hits and two earned runs in 7.0 innings pitched. She pitched four innings in relief in the Lions’ 8-6 10-inning game on Friday, giving up just one hit with two strikeouts while earning the win. She also pitched three innings in the Lions’ 11-3 win on Saturday against Cameron, giving up just two hits with three strikeouts in the win.

Jameyson, Dean, and the No. 21 Lions are currently 15-2 on the season after defeating Cameron two out of three games in the series. The Lions are now 5-1 in the Lone Star Conference. The team returns to action on Friday for a three-game road series against Midwestern State. The teams will play a single game on Friday at 7 p.m. and a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. on Saturday. All games will be at Mustangs Park in Wichita Falls.

LONE STAR CONFERENCE SOFTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Hitter
Feb. 6 – Kinsie Hebler, A&M-Commerce
Feb. 13 – Kourtney Coveney, West Texas A&M
Feb. 20 – Kinsie Hebler, A&M-Commerce (2)
Feb. 27 – Mariah Jameyson, A&M-Commerce
Mar. 6 – Mariah Jameyson, A&M-Commerce (2)

Pitcher
Feb. 6 – Emily Otto, A&M-Commerce
Feb. 13 – Jordan Withrow, Tarleton State
Feb. 20 – Morgan Hill, Angelo State
Bethany Hines, Cameron
Feb. 27 – Brandy Marlett, Angelo State
Mar. 6 – Katie Dean, A&M-Commerce

 

WOMEN’S GOLF

Lion women in fourth after opening round at Lion Invitational.

POTTSBORO – The Texas A&M University-Commerce women’s golf team sits in fourth place after the opening round of the Lion Invitational at Tanglewood Resort on the shores of Lake Texoma.

The Lions are led by Lauren Leslie, who is in fifth place with a score of 81 (9-over par), she is followed by Lexi Bubenchik in 17th place with an 87 (+15).

Makena Thomas is in 19th at 89 (+17), Sophie-Charlott Hempel is in 23rd at 90 (+18), and Lauren Bentley rounds out the team scorers in 25th at 91 (+19).

Three Lions are competing as individuals. Paige-Lee Garris is in 11th place on the leaderboard at 84 (+12), Emily White is in 14th at 85 (+13), and Christen Simons is in 19th at 89 (+17).

The Lions shot a team score of 347 (+59) and are behind leader Angelo State (321, +33), Western Texas College (330, +42), and Tyler Junior College (335, +47).

Action in the tournament concludes Monday at 8:00 a.m. with a shotgun start.

Rank	Team	Total	Par
1.	Angelo State	321	+33
2.	Western Texas College	330	+42
3.	Tyler JC	335	+47
4.	A&M-COMMERCE	347	+59
5.	UT Tyler	352	+64
6.	Ranger College	371	+83
7.	Houston-Victoria	372	+84
8.	Jacksonville College	413	+125

A&M-Commerce	347	+59	4th
Lauren Leslie	81	+9	t-5th
Paige-Lee Garris#	84	+12	t-11th
Emily White#	85	+13	t-14th
Lexi Bubenchik	87	+15	t-17th
Christen Simons#	89	+17	t-19th
Makena Thomas	89	+17	t-19th
Sophie Hempel	90	+18	t-23rd
Lauren Bentley	91	+19	t-25th

 

TRACK AND FIELD

Florian Obst named USTFCCCA South Central Region Field Athlete of the Year.

NEW ORLEANS – Texas A&M University-Commerce combined events specialist, Florian Obst, has been named the South Central Region Field Athlete of the Year by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Monday.

Obst – a senior from Emmering, Germany – is ranked first nationally in the heptathlon with a score of 5,494 points, which is the 12th best score in NCAA Division II history, a Lone Star Conference record, and a school record.

He scored 23 points for his team at the LSC Championships, helping lead the Lions to their fourth consecutive conference indoor title. He placed in five events including the heptathlon championship, and four of the five placements were in the field events.

“Florian earned this award, and he had tremendous performances both days at our Lone Star Conference Championships,” said Lion head coach George Pincock. “He scored in every event he was entered in, and in several of those, he even had personal bests. I will be excited to see what Florian does at the National Championships this weekend.”

Obst leads a contingent of 17 qualifiers to the NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships in Pittsburg, Kan. The fourth-ranked Lion men carry 11 qualifiers to the Championships, while the Lion women will take six qualifiers to the national event.

 

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Lions qualify for 2018 NCAA Division II Championship as the fifth seed in South Central Region.

COMMERCE – The Texas A&M University-Commerce men’s basketball team will participate in the 2018 NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Championship as the fifth seed in the South Central Region, as announced by the NCAA on Sunday night.

The Lions will play the fourth seed Fort Lewis College at West Texas A&M on Saturday, March 10, at a time to be announced.

A&M-Commerce has a record of 21-8 and qualifies for the NCAA Division II Tournament for the seventh time in program history and makes its 20thpostseason appearance all-time. The Lions also made the NCAA Tournament in 1996, 1997, 1998, 2005, 2015, and 2017, with a 5-6 record in this tournament. The Lions and Skyhawks have never met previously.

More information is forthcoming as the tournament approaches.

 

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Lions’ LSC Championship run ends in the semifinal with 73-63 loss to West Texas A&M.

FRISCO – The fourth-seeded Texas A&M University-Commerce men’s basketball team were unable to climb out of a double-digit deficit in a 73-63 loss to top-seeded West Texas A&M University in the Lone Star Conference Championship semifinal at Dr. Pepper Arena on Saturday.

The Lions are now 21-8 overall and will await their NCAA Division II National Championship fate. The tournament field announcement is at 9:30 p.m. Sunday. The team will have a watching party for the selection show at Luigi’s Italian Café in Commerce, starting at 9:15 p.m. West Texas A&M advances to the LSC Championship final with a 27-3 record.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
– Reggie Reid led all scorers with 26 points on 9-of-18 shooting from the floor, also pulling down five rebounds, and passing out four assists.
– Willie Rooks was the only other Lion in double figures with 11 points scored.
– The Lions shot 38.7 percent (24-of-62) from the floor and were limited to a 16.0 percent (4-of-25) rate from a three-point distance.
– West Texas outrebounded the Lions 46-33 and had four double-digit scorers.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Both teams shot under 40 percent in a tightly played first 20 minutes of the game. Neither team was able to pull out to a lead of more than two possessions. Conrod opened the scoring with a layup. After four Buff points, a Reid layup and Rooks triple put the Lions up by three with 15 minutes to play in the period.

WT went on a 7-0 run to switch the lead, as the Lions went on a four-minute scoring drought. A five-point Lion run tied the game up at 16-all, as A&M-Commerce held the tournament’s top seed off of the scoreboard for four and a half minutes. The teams traded four-point mini-runs in the final five minutes, and the Lions held a two-point edge going into the half’s final possession, but WT’s Ryan Quaid hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer to give the Buffs a 25-24 halftime edge.

There were six ties, and seven lead changes in the half and the Lions took advantage of eight offensive rebounds, converting them into eight-second chance points.

The Lions took the lead on an Armstrong three-pointer to make it 28-27 with 17:46 on the clock, but the Buffs went on a nine-point surge as the Lions missed four straight shots. WT pushed the lead to nine when the Lions went on a 7-2 run. A Srdan Budimir layup at the 10-minute mark cut the Buff lead to 41-37.

A&M-Commerce had held West Texas off the board for nearly five minutes before a sizeable Buffalo run. WT scored ten straight points and went out to a 51-37 advantage with just under eight minutes to play.

The Lions went on an 8-2 surge over the next three minutes to cut the deficit down to single digits, and a Rooks triple cut the lead down to seven points at 55-48 with four and a half minutes on the clock. WT pushed back out to a 14-point lead as David Chavlovich scored ten straight for WT.

A&M-Commerce was able to cut the lead down to 10 points at 71-61 in the final minute on a Reid three-pointer, but the Lions were unable to stage a last-gasp comeback effort.

 

SOFTBALL

No. 21 Lions split the day, take the series against No. 18 Cameron.

LAWTON, Okla.– The No. 21 Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team split a doubleheader against No. 18 Cameron on Saturday. The Lions won the first game 11-3 in six innings and lost the second game 2-1.

The split brings the Lions to 15-2 on the season and 5-1 in the Lone Star Conference. The loss breaks their 12-game win streak, which set a new program record. The Aggies are now 15-5 on the season and 7-2 in conference play.

The Lions return to action on Friday with a three-game road series against Midwestern State. The teams will play a single game on Friday at 7 p.m. followed by a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 1 p.m. All games will be at Mustangs Park in Wichita Falls.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE (Game 1)
– Mariah Jameyson went 3-for-3 with two homers, a double, four RBIs and three runs scored. She reached base in all four of her plate appearances.
– Vanessa Avina hit a three-run home run in the fifth inning. She had two hits in the game as well as a stolen base.
– Jodie Hill hit a solo home run in the fourth inning.
– Baylea Higgs had two hits, including a triple, two RBIs and a run scored.
– Ciera Nunez had two hits, two runs scored and a stolen base. Chealsea Slider had two hits, an RBI and a run scored.
– Vanessa Muro also had a hit. Chloe Horn and Kimber Neal also scored runs.
– Kinsie Hebler won the game in the circle. She pitched three innings and had three strikeouts. Katie Dean also pitched three innings and earned the save.

HOW IT HAPPENED (Game 1)
The Lions wasted no time scoring, plating three runs in the first inning. Nunez singled and stole second base. After a walk by Higgs, Jameyson came up to the plate and hammered a three-run homer to left center. The Lions led 3-0 after one-half inning of action.

The Aggies scored a run in the bottom of the first. A walk came after a deep double that scored a run. Hebler also had a strikeout in the inning as the Lions held a 3-1 advantage after a full inning of play.

The Lions went hitless the next two innings, but Hebler continued to pitch well in the circle, striking out two more batters in the third inning to keep the Aggies off the board.

Hill hit a solo home run to center field to start the fourth inning. Neal drew a walk, and Nunez then came up and singled into right field. Both Neal and Nunez scored on a triple from Higgs, bringing the Lion lead to 6-1 going into the bottom of the fourth.

The Aggies scored two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Two walks and a wild pitch put base runners into position to score, and a single drove in both runners to bring the Lion lead to 6-3 after four complete innings.

The Lions brought four more runs across in the fifth inning. Jameyson led off with a double and scored on a single from Slider. Muro then singled, and Avina came to the plate and hammered a pitch over the fence in left to score three more runs. The Lions led 10-3.

The Aggies would not score again, and a solo home run from Jameyson in the sixth inning gave the Lions an eight-run advantage, which stopped the game after six innings.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE (Game 2)
– Baylea Higgs went 2-of-3 with a double and a single. She scored the Lions’ lone run. She also had a stolen base.
– Mariah Jameyson went 2-of-2 with two singles and a walk.
– Chealsea Slider also had a hit. Precious Thompson stole a base.
– Bri Sims drove in the run on a sacrifice fly.
– Emily Otto pitched a complete game in the loss. She was only charged for one run in six innings and had six strikeouts to just one walk.

HOW IT HAPPENED (Game 2)
Higgs and Jameyson both hit singles in the top of the first inning, but the Lions could not get another hit to bring the runners across. Otto had a strikeout in the bottom half to keep the game scoreless after one inning.

Both teams struck out twice in the second inning, and the Lions went three-up and three-down in the third inning as well. The Aggies had two hits in the bottom of the third, but Otto punched out the final batter of the inning to keep the game scoreless through three.

Jameyson singled to lead off the fourth, and she was pinch run for by Thompson. Thompson stole second base to get into scoring position, but the Lions could not get her across, and there was still no score. The Aggies’ first two batters retired without incident. The next batter then hit a triple and tried to stretch it into an inside the park home run. Higgs threw the ball to Hill who rifled it to Jameyson to tag the runner out at the plate to keep the game knotted at zero through four.

The Lions again went three-up and three-down in the fifth inning, and the Aggies were finally able to get a rally going. A double followed by a walk and a wild pitch. An errant throw on a base stealing attempt brought one run across home plate. The next batter singled to bring in another score, and the Aggies led 2-0 after five innings.

The Lions got a run across in the top of the sixth inning. Higgs doubled and then stole third base. They intentionally walked Jameyson, and then an infield single from Slider loaded the bases with one out. Sims pinch hit and hit a sacrifice fly to left to score Higgs. The Lions could not get another run across and trailed 2-1 after six complete innings. A&M-Commerce could not get any rally going in the seventh inning, and the game ended 2-1 in favor of Cameron.

 

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Lions fall 68-55 to No. 23 West Texas A&M in LSC Championship semifinal.

FRISCO– The Texas A&M University-Commerce women’s basketball team fell 68-55 to No. 23 West Texas A&M in the semifinal round of the Lone Star Conference Championship on Saturday. The Lions fought hard throughout the game, but the Lady Buffs pulled away in the final quarter.

The loss brought the Lions to 18-12 on the season and eliminated from the tournament. WT improves to 26-4 and advances to the championship game.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
– Brianna Wise led the Lions with 24 points, her 14th 20-point game of the season. She was 10-of-11 from the free throw line and led the team with eight rebounds.
– Artaejah Gay had eight points, bringing her career total to 1,282, the third most in school history.
– Princess Davis had eight points and two assists, taking her over the 300 assist mark in her career.
– Melanie Ransom scored seven points, and Lauren Parker had six points.
– A&M-Commerce scored 23 points off of 24 WT turnovers.
– The Lions struggled from the field early, missing their first 14 shots of the game. The Lions shot 26 percent in the game.
– The Lions held WT scoreless for the final 5 minutes of the second quarter, ending the first half on a 13-0 run.
– A&M-Commerce is now 11-21 all-time in the LSC Tournament.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Lions struggled shooting early, missing their first 14 shots of the game. Wise hit two free throws to get the Lions on the board. Despite their shooting struggles, the Lion defense was able to cause multiple WT turnovers early in the quarter. The Lady Buffs also benefited from offensive rebounds early in the quarter, netting nine second-chance points.

Ransom hit a three with two minutes left to give the Lions their first field goal of the game. She hit two shots late in the quarter to keep the Lions in range. The Lions went into the second quarter trailing 16-9.

Wise hit two early shots in the second quarter as the Lions cut the WT lead down to three. Wise then hit a three to cut the WT lead to one point with seven and a half to play. The Lady Buffs answered back, beginning a 10-0 run to bring their lead to double digits. Midway through the quarter, WT led by eight.

The Lions started to fight back, driving into the lane to create contact and get to the foul line. Wise got to the line four times, helping to cut the WT lead back down to just four points with three minutes left. The Lion defense also picked up, tightening on shooters and drawing charges. The Lady Buffs were held scoreless for the final five minutes of the half.

Parker hit two free throws to tie the game with a minute left. After a strong defensive play, the Lions had one final possession in half. Wise missed a shot, but Gay was there for the offensive rebound and put back to take the Lions into halftime with a 30-28 lead. The Lions ended the half on a 13-0 run.

Wise led all scorers with 15 points in the first half, going 8-of-8 from the free throw line. The Lions held WT to just 34 percent shooting in the first half, 14 percentage points below their average. The Lions caused 15 WT turnovers in the first half, converting them into 16 points.

The Lions continued to attack the paint early in the second half. Wise and Gay both hit early buckets inside the paint as the Lions brought their lead to four points. The Lady Buffs also attacked in transition and scored eight in a row to retake the lead. Midway through the quarter, the game tied at 40.

The Lady Buffs caused turnovers on consecutive possessions and again started to pull away. They went on a 13-2 run over the next three minutes to take an 11-point lead. The Lions scored the last basket of the quarter and went into the fourth quarter down 53-44.

The Lions started the fourth quarter well. Wise hit a three and Davis hit a layup in transition to cut the WT lead to six points with seven minutes left. WT answered back to push their lead back up to 10 points. The Lions continued to fight the rest of the way but could not cut the lead down far enough to get back in.

 

FOOTBALL

Blue takes 14-0 win in annual Blue and Gold Spring Game.

COMMERCE – The Texas A&M University-Commerce football team gave its first public showing in defense of the 2017 NCAA Division II National Championship with the annual Bule and Gold Spring Game at Ernest Hawkins Field at Memorial Stadium on Saturday morning.

“I thought it was a good, clean game with a lot of good plays made, especially defensively,” said head coach Colby Carthel. “Our defense is a little bit ahead of the offense right now, and with a split squad it makes it tough to move the ball.”

The defensive prowess was evident in the game, as there were only two scores in the 14-0 win for the Blue team. The coaching staff earlier in the week drafted the sides to give all players a chance to see the field. Carandal Hale scored a 6-yard touchdown run, and Deonta Adams was on the receiving end of a 6-yard touchdown pass.

The game comes after two weeks of spring practices, which came hot on the heels of the National Championship run and the ensuing loss of the winningest senior class in school history.

“It’s been a great spring so far, and every year we have a lot of turnovers. We’ve graduated a lot of great players every year we’ve been here. That’s what’s fun. This thing is self-sustaining. We’ve got players ready to step up in those roles that played a little bit as a backup last year or who transferred in. We’ve got some great competition. We’re nowhere near ready for the 2018 season, but we’re off to a great start.”

Unlike most programs, A&M-Commerce’s spring game does not mark the end of spring practices but serves as a necessary measuring stick heading into the final portion of spring practice. Thus, the Lions start their spring season in February, nearly immediately after National Signing Day.

“Getting out here and getting an early start to spring is essential. It’s always necessary for our program and our success. I think we’re going to be in good shape, but we do still have some work to do.

“We’ve got six practices left, and we design it that way on purpose. We’ve got some work to do. Defensively, we’ve got some young guys who are continuing to step up in some roles, and they need to improve technique-wise and with our scheme. Offensively, with so many moving parts up front and at the quarterback-wide receiver positions, we’ve got to continue working on our timing and the mechanics of the offense.”

The Blue and Gold game and the progress of the spring season gives Carthel optimism heading into the 2018 season, though the Lions must strive to succeed in the coming weeks.

“We’ve got the tools we need to be very successful, so we’ve got to keep working and chopping wood and get this thing improving every day. We’ve got six chances to get better. Then we’ll hit the offseason.”

 

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Lions advance to LSC Championship semifinals with 76-63 win over Angelo State.

DENTON – The fourth-seeded Texas A&M University-Commerce men’s basketball team used a second-half surge to pull away from fifth-seeded Angelo State University for a 76-63 win in the Lone Star Conference Championship quarterfinals at Texas Woman’s University’s Kitty Magee Arena on Friday evening.

The Lions move to 21-7 on the season and advance to the LSC Championship semifinals at 8:30 p.m. Saturday against either West Texas A&M or Eastern New Mexico. Angelo State is now 18-11 on the year.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
– Four Lions scored in double figures, led by 20 points from Reggie Reid, who also had eight rebounds and passed out four assists.
– Aaron Horne scored 14 points and had four rebounds. He had a game-high three made three-pointers.
– Willie Rooks scored 13 points and had five rebounds.
– Trey Conrod scored 12 points and snagged eight rebounds.
– The Lions shot 47.4 percent (27-of-57) from the field, including a 54.5 percent (12-of-22) clip in the second half.
– The Lions held a 43-33 rebounding edge, including 11 offensive rebounds to the Rams’ five.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The early going went back and forth as the teams felt each other out. Angelo State led 6-2 early before the first big Lion surge. Rooks scored six straight Lion points, and four different players contributed in a 12-2 run which gave A&M-Commerce a 14-8 lead with 14 minutes left in the first half.

Reid took over the scoring efforts for the Lions from there. The LSC Newcomer of the Year scored the Lions’ next 11 points, and his three-point play with just under 11 minutes to play put the Lion lead in double digits at 25-14. The Lions were only able to score two field goals in the final 6:54 of the half, but a strong defensive effort allowed A&M-Commerce to hold on to a 37-31 lead at the break.

The Lions made 15-of-35 (42.9 percent) of their field goal attempts in the first and turned eight offensive rebounds into 15-second-chance points.

Angelo State cut the lead to four points out the locker room with a pair of free throws, but the Lions responded with an eight-point run to get back in front by double figures. Conrod’s tip-in, a fast break three-pointer by Horne, and another Conrod layup put A&M-Commerce up 45-33 with 15:53 to play.

The Rams cut the lead back down to five points with an 8-0 run, holding the Lions scoreless for nearly three minutes before an impressive drive to the bucket and layup by Joseph Williams-Powell ended the drought.

Five straight Angelo State points cut the Lion lead down to one possession at 50-48 with 10:16 to play, but A&M-Commerce scored vital points to keep the Rams from tying the game. The lead shrank to one point at 53-52 before an eight-point Lion surge. A corner three from Horne made it a 60-52 game with 6:32 to play.

A&M-Commerce did not allow a Ram field goal for more than three minutes during a 10-1 run. Armstrong’s driving layup with five minutes to play put the Lion advantage back in double digits at 63-53.

The Rams only made three shots in the final five minutes, as the Lions never allowed the lead to shrink below 11 again. Free throws down the stretch allowed the Lions to lead by as many as 15 points in the final minute.

 

SOFTBALL

No. 18 Lions use extra-inning heroics to knock off No. 21 Cameron 8-6 in 10 innings.

LAWTON, Okla. – The No. 21 Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team defeated No. 18 Cameron University, 8-6 in 10 innings, on Friday. The Lions and Aggies traded runs throughout the game before Mariah Jameyson put the Lions ahead for good in the 10th.

The win brings the Lions to 14-1 and 4-0 in the Lone Star Conference. The Lions have won 11 games in a row, which sets a new program record. The Aggies fall to 14-4 on the season and 6-1 in conference play.

The teams will meet Saturday in a doubleheader starting at 1:00 p.m. The games will be at McMahon Field in Lawton, Okla.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
– Mariah Jameyson continued her hot streak, belting a three-run homer in the fifth inning. She also had the game-winning two-run single in the 10th inning. She finished the day 2-for-3 with five RBIs and three walks.
– Jodie Hill hit her first home run of the season in the fifth inning. She drove two runs across on the hit.
– Ciera Nunez and Kimber Neal each had two hits in the game.
– Lion hitters drew 11 walks in the game, led by three by Jameyson and two apiece by Baylea Higgs and Kinsie Hebler.
– Katie Dean got the win in the circle to move to 5-1 on the season. She pitched 4.0 innings in relief, allowing one earned run on one hit, walking four and striking out two.
– Emily Otto made her fourth save of the season. She started the game and went 6.0 innings, allowing five earned runs on eight hits, striking out five and walking four.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Neither team got on the board in the first inning. Otto recorded a strikeout on the defensive end. The Aggies got on the board in the second inning. A single was followed by a sacrifice bunt to advance the runner. A double brought in the first run. The Lions trailed 1-0 after two innings.

Nunez singled to begin the third inning. After stealing second base, the next two batters walked to load the bases. Muro came up and also drew a walk, plating the Lions’ first run of the contest. The Lions could not get another run across, and the game tied at one.

The Aggies hit a leadoff homer in the third inning. The next batter doubled, but Otto fought through to strikeout the last batter of the inning. CU held a 2-1 lead after three complete innings.

The Aggies hit another home run in the fourth inning to take a 3-1 lead. The Lions responded in the next inning. A pitch hit Higgs, and a Hebler walk put two base runners on. On the fifth pitch of her at-bat, Jameyson crushed the ball over the center field wall, scoring three and giving the Lions a 4-3 lead. The Lions weren’t done yet as Slider doubled to right center, and she scored on a home run from Jodie Hill. The Lions led 6-3 after five complete innings.

The Lions were unable to get any runs across in the top of the sixth inning, and the Aggies came up to bat ready. A walk and a single put two runners on. The next batter came up and smacked a pitch over the left field wall, tying the game at six after six innings.

The Lions drew three walks in the seventh inning to load the bases but could not get the necessary hit to drive a run across. The Aggies were also unable to get any run support in the seventh, and the game went into extra innings.

Neither team could get much of anything going in the first two innings of extras. Dean continued to battle in the circle for the Lions as both pitchers kept runners off of the base paths.

The Lions broke the tie in the 10th inning. Neal and Nunez both singled and Hebler drew a walk to load the bases. Jameyson then came up and smacked a pitch through the middle of the infield and scored two runners. The Lions held an 8-6 lead going into the bottom of the 10th.

Dean got the first out of the bottom of the frame before Otto was brought back in to attempt a save. After two walks, the Lions intentionally walked the next batter to load the bases with one out. The next batter popped out, and the final at-bat fouled out to end the game.

 

Night With Champions raises over $99,000 for football summer school scholarships.

Texas A&M University-Commerce’s inaugural Night With Champions to raise funds for football summer school scholarships, held on February 23, was a rousing success.

On the night between table donations, bucket bidding, special scholarship gifts, and silent/live auction proceeds, all raised an astounding $99,355.

“Our National Championship was truly a team championship, involving our student-athletes, staff, university campus, city, and community,” said Lion head coach Colby Carthel. “The support we received from Night With Champions exemplifies the spirit and generosity of the larger team, and go a long way helping our kids graduate and keeping our program competing at the national level!”

A Best in the Class meal was provided by presenting sponsor Sodexo for those in attendance, and the athletics department received assistance from multiple departments on campus, including the Rayburn Student Center and Institutional Advancement.

“For our first major fundraising event like this, I can’t imagine how Night With Champions could have gone much better,” said the director of athletics Tim McMurray. “Seeing our Lion family come together to support an important project like football summer school scholarships was an awesome sight, and I look forward to this being an annual event in support of our Best in Class student-athletes.”

National Champion partners for the night were Meador Commerce Auto Group, Rosalie and Frank Turner, the Texas A&M University System, and the Texas A&M University-Commerce Office of the President.

 

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Facility issues push Friday action in LSC men’s tournament to Denton at TWU.

FRISCO – The Texas Woman’s University’s Kitty Magee Arena in Denton is the relocation of the Lone Star Conference Men’s Basketball Championship quarterfinal games. The move came after facility issues and student-athlete safety concerns at Dr. Pepper Arena.

The fourth-seeded Texas A&M University-Commerce Lions will take on fifth-seeded Angelo State University at 6 p.m. Friday. It will be the third of four men’s games at TWU on Friday, and admission to the games will be free of charge. The Lion Sports Network, KETR 88.9 FM, and KETR.org will broadcast the game.

Dr. Pepper Arena is the venue for the completion of the women’s tournament quarterfinals on Friday. Due to a facility issue on Thursday, they halted second game of the women’s quarterfinals.

All Lone Star Conference Championship semifinals on Saturday and the finals on Sunday are slated to be played at Dr. Pepper Arena as initially scheduled.

For more information on the LSC Championships, stay tuned to @LIon_Athletics on Twitter and LoneStarConference.org.

LSC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE (updated 3/1/18)
Thursday, March 1, 2018
SESSION ONE
Game 1: 3) Texas A&M-Commerce 93, 6) Cameron 89 (OT)

Friday, March 2, 2018, at Dr. Pepper Arena in Frisco, Texas
Game 2: 12:30 p.m., 2) West Texas A&M vs. 7) Midwestern State (Resumes at the start of 3rd quarter WT 32, MSU 26)

SESSION TWO
Game 3: 2:30 p.m., 4) Eastern New Mexico vs. 5) Tarleton State
Game 4: 6 p.m., 1) Angelo State vs. 8) Texas Woman’s

Saturday, March 3, 2018, at Dr. Pepper Arena in Frisco, Texas
SESSION FIVE
Game 9: Noon, A&M-Commerce vs. Winner Game 2
Game 10: 2:30 p.m., Women Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4

Sunday, March 4, 2018, at Dr. Pepper Arena in Frisco, Texas
SESSION SEVEN
Game 13: 1 p.m., Women’s Championship: Winner G9 vs. Winner G10

LSC MEN’S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE (updated 3/1/18)
Friday, March 2, 2018, at Texas Woman’s University in Denton, Texas
SESSION THREE
Game 5: 1 p.m., 3) Tarleton State vs. 6) Cameron
Game 6: 3:30 p.m., 2) UT Permian Basin vs. 7) Midwestern State

SESSION FOUR
Game 7: 6 p.m., 4) A&M-Commerce vs. 5) Angelo State
Game 8: 8:30 p.m., 1) West Texas A&M vs. 8) Eastern New Mexico

Saturday, March 3, 2018, at Dr. Pepper Arena in Frisco, Texas
SESSION SIX
Game 11: 6 p.m., Men Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6
Game 12: 8:30 p.m., Men Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8

Sunday, March 4, 2018, at Dr. Pepper Arena in Frisco, Texas
SESSION SEVEN
Game 14: 3:30 p.m., Men’s Championship: Winner G11 vs. Winner G12