The Angelo State women's basketball team (8-9, 1-2 LSC South) dropped below .500 Wednesday night as the 'Belles fell, 82-65, at Texas A&M-Kingsville at the Steinke Center in Kingsville.
The host Javelinas would jump out to an early lead but the 'Belles would answer with a 9-2 run midway through the opening half to knot the contest, 20-20, as freshman Morgan Youngblood with hit one of two free throws with 9:17 remaining before the half. Less than two minutes later, with the score tied 20-20, TAMUK would start what would be a 15-2 run to end the half to take control of the contest and lead at the intermission, 35-22.
TAMUK would maintain a double-digit lead for the majority of the second half, even extending its advantage to 20 points, before the 'Belles would begin to claw back into the contest. Trailing 55-35 with 11:45 remaining, ASU would put together a 14-2 run over a span of 4:50, capped by a jumper by sophomore Paige Weishuhn, to get back within eight points, 57-49, with just under eight minutes left. ASU would trim the deficit to as few as seven points, 61-54, on a pair of free throws by junior Camille Perkins at the 5:51 mark before the Javelinas would pull away. TAMUK outscored the 'Belles, 21-11, over the final five minutes of the contest.
Perkins led ASU with 16 points while freshman Leah LeMaire added 11 points as the only other 'Belle in double figures. Senior Casie Adams pulled down 11 rebounds and dished five assists, both game highs. ASU shot 37 percent (19-of-52) from the field, hitting 5-of-13 shots (39%) from three-point range, and shot 82 percent (22-of-27) from the free-throw line.
For TAMUK (14-4, 2-1 LSC South), Dyana Bullinger led five Javelinas in double-figure scoring as she scored 22 points and pulled down a team-best 10 rebounds. The Javelinas hit 27-of-58 shots (47%) from the field, also shooting 39 percent (9-of-23) from behind the arc, and shot 79 percent (19-of-24) from the charity stripe. TAMUK out-rebounded the 'Belles, 38-30.
The 'Belles return to action Saturday night when they host rival Abilene Christian. Tip-off is 6 p.m. at the Junell Center/Stephens Arena.
