COMMERCE, Texas – In a game with nine lead changes, Texas A&M University – Commerce slipped past the University of the Incarnate Word women's basketball team as the Cardinals fell 64-61 on Saturday afternoon.
 
Nina De Leon Negron and Aliyah Collins had a standout game with 17 points apiece. Freshman, Collins finished the night with a new career-high in points.
 
The Lions went on an 11-0 run in the first but a three-point play by Collins sparked a UIW comeback. Collins finished the first with seven points as the Cardinals only trailed by five (19-14).
 
Midway through the second, De Leon Negron finished a layup through contact and sunk the free throw before Myra Bell grabbed a steal in the passing lanes for a fast break layup to tie the game. De Leon Negron went 1-2 from the free throw line to take the lead, 27-26. The Cardinals went on to outscore the Lions 17-9 and take a 31-28 edge at the half.
 
UIW looked to the bench in the third with three starters with three fouls. Collins continued her scoring run, knocking down a jumper to reclaim the Cardinal lead at 43-41. Kaylee Howell grabbed an offensive board and kept the ball high on the put back to bring the score to 47-43. TAMUC ended the third on a run, going 1-2 from the free throw line to tie the game, 49-49.
 
As the fourth got off to a slow start, the Cardinals heated up, going on a 6-0 crucial run to take a 55-53 advantage with three minutes to go. With 30 seconds left in the game, De Leon Negron finished a layup and a free throw to cut the Lion lead to one (61-60). TAMUC extended the lead to three with five seconds left but the Cardinals were unable to knock down a three and ultimately lost the game.
 
FOLLOW ALONG
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