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Life > Athletics > Basketball > 1/11/07
BACKCOURT CARRIES A&M-COMMERCE BY TWU 72-66
COMMERCE, Texas (Jan. 11) – Texas A&M-Commerce's starting backcourt tandem of sophomore Britney Jordan and senior Kanani Marshal combined for 44 points to lead the Lions to 72-66 win over the Texas Woman's University Pioneers on Thursday night in Commerce, Texas.
Jordan , a McDonald's All-American in high school who began her collegiate career at Temple University before transferring to A&M-Commerce, very nearly collected a triple-double in the win for the Lions. She scored a game-high 24 points, dished out 8 assists, and snared 8 rebounds.
Marshal, a 2005-06 All-Lone Star Conference performer, contributed 20 points of her own, primarily on the strength of five made three-point baskets.
TWU head coach Rene Hanebutt gave plenty of credit to Jordan and Marshal following the game.
"I definitely feel that they (Jordan and Marshal) form the best backcourt in this league. Both of them are big-time talents who can score from anywhere on the court. We didn't have an answer for them all night long," she explained.
The Pioneers hung tough throughout, thanks in large part to the outstanding effort of junior guard Brandi Crouch. Crouch, a transfer from McLennan Junior College, drained six of the seven three-point shots she attempted in the game and led TWU in scoring with 20 points. Two of her three-point baskets came in the opening 5:11 of the first half and spurred TWU to a quick 14-8 lead.
Unfortunately for the Pioneers, TWU could not build on its strong start. The Lions answered the Pioneers initial flurry with a 12-2 run to pull in front by a 20-16 score before the midway point of the first half.
The resilient Pioneers would remain in striking distance as the first half came to a close. Crouch's fifth three-pointer of the half cut the A&M-Commerce lead to 34-31 with :52 seconds until halftime. Before the horn, however, the Lions would respond. After an unforced turnover by TWU, A&M-Commerce's Dawn Montgomery drilled another three-point basket with two seconds left in the half to send the home team to the locker room with a six-point cushion, 37-31.
"The sequence of plays right before the half really hurt us," said Hanebutt. "We hit a three to get close, then we made a defensive stop. Unfortunately, we turned it over and gave them another look. The three-point basket by Montgomery put them back up by six and took the momentum away from us."
A 15-6 spurt to start the second half extended the Lions lead to 52-37 with 14:52 to play in the game. A quick timeout by Hanebutt seemed to steady the Pioneers, and TWU began to once again claw their way back. Freshman post Chelsea Cook scored eight quick points for the Pioneers to pull TWU to within 61-58 with just under four minutes to play in regulation. With time winding down, the Pioneers were forced to foul. Jordan, as she did all night, stepped up for the Lions. The Peoria, Illinois native made seven free throws in the game's waning moments to help A&M-Commerce hold off the Pioneers' push.
Despite the loss, Hanebutt felt good about her team's play.
"A&M-Commerce is a very good basketball team. But, we showed that when we are focused and ready to play, we can be a good team as well. We shot the ball well (44% from three-point range) and outrebounded them (41-35). This is one of those losses that we can learn from and build on later in the season," she stated.
Cook finished with 18 points and 7 rebounds in the game for the Pioneers. Senior post Margaret Wimbish contributed 13 points and 11 rebounds to the TWU cause.
The victory by the Lions (11-6) was their sixth in a row, tying an A&M-Commerce school record for consecutive wins. With the loss, TWU falls to 8-7 on the season.
The Pioneers will return to Lone Star Conference South Division play for their next game, Wednesday, January 17, at 7 p.m. in Wichita Falls against Midwestern State University.
For additional information, please contact the TWU Sports Information office at (940) 898-2373.
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