By Jared Fields, Sports Editor
Going into Thursday’s road game against Texas A&M-Kingsville, the Wildcats sat at the bottom of the women’s basketball Lone Star Conference standings with a 1-3 record. However, after picking up two close wins last weekend, the team moved its way to fourth in the LSC standings.
The Wildcats beat Kingsville 71-67, then beat Texas Woman’s on Saturday 84-79 in overtime.
“The games were close, but I never felt that we were going to lose,” head coach Shawna Lavender said. “Each game we’re getting a little more confident; the overtime win on Saturday was big for our confidence.”
Against Texas Woman’s, the Wildcats led 69-66 with nine seconds remaining, but the Pioneers scored a 3-pointer as time expired to force overtime.
“She was off balance and threw it up,” Lavender said about the last second shot. “And I thought, ‘you’ve got to be kidding me.’ But that’s the way Texas Woman’s had been shooting the ball all night.”
Before Saturday’s game, the Wildcats lost their two previous overtime games.
“Going into overtime in the past, the girls had looked kind of scared going into it,” Lavender said. “Saturday they looked like, ‘OK, lets get this over with.’ We weren’t worried going into overtime.”
With one minute remaining in overtime, Texas Woman’s pulled within two points of the Wildcats, but sophomore point guard Alex Guiton nailed a 3-pointer to seal the ensuing possession and secure the victory.
“I think that was probably the biggest shot of the night,” Lavender said. “In overtime we had some kids step up and make some really big plays.”
Guiton led all scorers with 26 points, while seniors Jamie Lord-Boles, Ashley King and Kierstan Barbee had 15, 14 and 13 points, respectively.
On Thursday against Kingsville, Guiton and King led the Wildcats with 20 points each. The Wildcats played well in the win, but Lavender credits tough play from Kingsville in keeping the score close.
“I think Kingsville played well; their record doesn’t show it, but they’re a good team and have played everyone close,” Lavender said.
