Lady Lions fall in Ft. Worth, 63-41
Wesleyan defense stymies SAGU offense
Next Game: Jan. 5 at home vs. St. Thomas
FORT WORTH, Texas -- The women’s basketball team from Southwestern Assemblies of God University battled to within two points late in first half but succumbed to cold shooting in a 63-41 setback to Texas Wesleyan University on Monday night.
Playing with passion, the Lady Lions (4-10, 1-7 in RRAC) outrebounded the Wesleyan Women in the first half, 17-13, including a 7-1 advantage on the offensive glass.
They were tied twice (6-6 and 15-15), and were within 21-19 when Sierra Hankins (Welch, Ok / Welch HS) knocked down a jumper following an assist from Andrea Lugo (San Antonio, Tx / Somerset HS) and a pair of free throws by Kassy Cox (Lufkin, Tx / Lufkin HS).
By the time the Lady Lions scored again four minutes later on a Jessica Sodich (Arlington, Tx / Ovilla Christian) jumper, they missed three layups, made three turnovers and trailed 31-21. They never got closer the rest of the game.
Over the next five minutes the squad misfired on six of seven shots while the Lady Rams opened up a 44-25 lead with 14 minutes remaining.
SAGU connected on 25% of their shots (8 of 32) in the first half before improving to 37 (9 of 24) in the second. The combined 30% production wasn’t enough as the Lady Ewes made 47% in both halves.
Wesleyan won the boards after intermission by a 17-10 count, 8-3 offensive.
Free throws and three-pointers were of little factor. SAGU was 0-15 beyond the arc and 7-of-9 on the charity stripe, while TWU swished just 2-of-12 and 9-of-16 on the foul line.
SAGU has gone 0-27 from long distance in the past two games after netting 19 in the previous three. The Rams committed 16 turnovers and forced 25.
Two days after pouring in a career-high 29 points against the University of the Southwest, Hankins was held four points on just six shots – three in each half.
Credit the Rams defense for preventing more opportunities for the junior center. Still, she managed to lead the Lady Lions with seven rebounds, four of them on the offensive glass.
Cox, a sophomore, led the team in scoring with nine points and in steals with three.
Three others had six; Taylor Hill (Waxahachie, Tx / Waxahachie HS), Cordia Harvatin (San Antonio, Tx / Stacey HS) and Brittany Griffin (Rockwall, Tx / Rockwall Christian).
Harvatin and Griffin, a pair of sophomore forwards, were the lone players to shoot 50% or higher.
Lugo came off the bench to play 25 minutes. She was credited with all three of the team’s assists and committed two turnovers.
Texas Wesleyan received solid play from three transfer players.
Carneisha Sims, a 5’8 junior forward, netted 7-of-8 shots for 15 points while Kashyla Fields, a 5’7 guard, added 11 on 5-of-10 shooting.
5-foot-7 junior guard J’Tierra Brown impacted the game with eight assists and three steals in only 18 minutes.
The Lady Lions tied the score at six apiece on a layup from Okievia Bratchett (Center, Tx / Tenaha HS) and an offensive putback by Hankins.
After falling behind 12-6, SAGU regrouped to tie the game with a 9-3 run; a free throw by Cox, and four layups from Harvatin, Lugo and a pair by Hill.
Griffin made her six points in the closing seven minutes. She stroked two jumpers and layed in another in the lane.
Next Game in 19 Days
SAGU will now be off for the holidays. Their next game will be at home on Saturday, January 5, when they host the University of St. Thomas.
The 2:00pm matinee will pit the Lady Lions against the Lady Celts (5-7, 3-3 in RRAC).
The team’s next five games are on the road before returning home again on Jan. 26.
Contact: Mark “Link” Warde, SAGU Sports Information Director, at
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or at 469-658-2847.
