Leading by 17 points heading into the fourth quarter, Texas A&M-Commerce had to hold off a furious rally by Eastern New Mexico to hang on for a 77-70 win in the final quarterfinal game Friday of the LSC Championship.
With the lead down to just two points in the final minute, Lions guard Princess Davis hit a clutch layup in the lane, followed by two free throws to finally give her team the cushion needed to survive and upset the Greyhounds, the No. 4 seed.
The fifth-seeded Lions (20-9) will face the No. 1 seeded West Texas A&M Lady Buffs Saturday night in the LSC Championship semifinal round at 6 p.m.
The win should help the Texas A&M-Commerce, which was ranked eighth in last week’s regional rankings, with the top eight teams advancing. For the Greyhounds (19-10), who were ranked seventh, they must hope for a bid to remain in the top eight.
Davis, a second-team All-LSC performer, led all scorers with 25 points, which included 12 points in the first quarter as the Lions raced out to a 23-11 lead remained up 12 at the half, and then up 17 after three quarters.
Despite training 59-42 entering the fourth, the Greyhounds weren’t ready to quit. A 12-0 run by ENMU cut the lead down to five before Commerce guard Mykiel Burleson hit a 3-pointer to end the run. But ENMU’s Jena Mehlbrech answered with a 3-pointer and the Lions led by five again with 6:59 to play.
The Greyhounds were able to slice the lead down to 2 on a bucket from Laura Rowe with a minute to play. But like she did all game, Davis answered for Commerce, weaving into the lane for a big basket and a four-point lead. After a Greyhounds turnover, Davis hit two more free throws to clinch the game.
Alexus Jones added 14 points for Commerce, while Chania Wright had 13. Alexis Bryant had six points and 12 rebounds.
For the Greyhounds, Treyanna Clay had 14 points and eight rebounds before fouling out. Alivia Lewis had 12 points and 11 rebounds and Shelby Jones pitched in with 10. Melhbrech came off the bench to score 11.
Texas A&M-Commerce Notes:
- The Lions are now two games away from claiming their first LSC Championship title since 2007.
- Commerce is now 12-22 in LSC Championship games.
- The victory gave the Lions their third 20-win season in school history and the second under head coach Jason Burton.
- Davis had a season-high 25 points, surpassing the 21-point mark that he reached twice this year. Her career-high is 31 points in 2018 vs. Cameron.
- The Lions tied their season-high with 10 3-pointers made. But they had a season-best in percentage, making 50 percent (10 of 20).
Eastern New Mexico Notes:
- ENMU is 8-21 in LSC Championship games. The Greyhounds have not won an LSC Championship game since the 1996
- Treyanna Clay, the LSC’s Newcomer of the Year and First-Team All-LSC pick, finished in double figure scoring for the 23rd straight game.
- Alivia Lewis, the LSC’s leading rebounder in the regular season with 251 boards, pulled down 11.
- Lewis recorded her second double-double of the season, posting 12 points and 11 rebounds.
- Jenna Mehlbrech tied her season-high with three 3-pointers Friday night against the Lions.