Box Score | Box Score (PDF)

COMMERCE – The Angelo State women's basketball team held on to a 55-54 win over Texas A&M-Commerce in the LSC opener for both teams in Commerce on Thursday night. 

"The energy when we made our run was phenomenal," head coach Cayla Petree said after the game. "It was the best it's been all year. It's tough to beat a team that is playing with the heart we showed tonight."

The Belles (7-4, 1-0 LSC) limited the Lions (1-9, 0-1 LSC) to 24.7-percent shooting and hit 34.5-percent from the field including 56.0-percent in the second half. Texas A&M-Commerce was able to out rebound ASU 53-46 but the Belles made 15 steals.

Texas A&M-Commerce grabbed a 26-20 halftime lead by limiting the Belles to 18.2-percent from the field. The Belles grabbed an early lead of 5-2 on a three pointer by Haylee Oliver and would keep a three point lead until Texas A&M-Commerce's Devin Oliver three tied the game at nine with 12:24 to play in the first half.

The two teams traded buckets before the Lions went on an 11-3 to take a 21-14 lead with 5:02 in the first half. The Belles would outscore the Texas A&M-Commerce 6-5 over the final five minutes to close the lead to 26-20.

The Belles opened the second half with a three pointer by Oliver that cut the lead to 26-23 before the Lions extended their lead to 30-23. Karli Kellermeier would hit a three and Rochelle Norris scored four points to cut the lead to 31-29.

Texas A&M-Commerce pushed its lead back to six at 36-30 with 11:53 to play in the second half until the Belles cut it to 40-37 on a Michelle Rosewell layup. Another shot by Rosewell sparked an 11-0 run capped by an Amanda Weaver three pointer to give ASU a 48-40 lead with 5:36 left.

The Lions wouldn't go away with a 5-0 run to make it 48-45. Weaver hit another three to extend the lead to 51-45. Hillari Adam and Leah LeMaire would both hit jumpers to keep the lead at six points with 1:39 to play.

Texas A&M-Commerce cut the lead to 55-54 with 45 seconds left in the game and forced a turnover with 18 seconds left in the game. The Lions would get off three shots in the final 10 seconds but none would go in as the Belles would hang on for the 55-54 win.

Weaver led the Belles with 16 points and Rochelle Norris added 11 points and three steals. Kellermeier grabbed seven rebounds.

Breanna Harris led the Lions with 21 points and 13 rebounds.

The Belles return to action on Wed., Jan. 8 against LSC rival Tarleton State at 6 p.m. in Stephenville.