HAMMOND, La. – Texas A&M-Corpus Christi outscored Southeastern Louisiana, 25-9, in the fourth quarter to pull away for a 69-53 victory in Southland Conference women's basketball action Wednesday night in the University Center.
 
Southeastern (4-19, 2-10 Southland) sunk 11 three-point field goals in the loss, but made only four from inside the arc, as the Lady Lions shot 28.3 percent (15-for-53) from the floor on the way to their fourth straight loss. The Islanders (9-14, 5-8 Southland) finished with a 54-33 rebounding advantage and made 25-of-36 free throws, as the Lady Lions were whistled for 33 fouls.
 
Junior guard Bre Warren made four-of-six three-point field goals on the way to a team-high 14 points for SLU. Sophomore guard Ashailee Brailey and freshman guard Tyler Morrison narrowly missed reaching double figures with nine and eight points, respectively.
 
Senior guard Chey Stewart led Southeastern with eight rebounds to go with her seven points. Brailey and freshman guard Courtney Dawsey shared team-high honors with three assists each. Morrison and junior guard Taylin Underwood each recorded two steals to pace the Lady Lions.
 
Kassie Jones led a balanced AMCC effort with 17 points and was joined in double figures by Dalesia Booth, who chipped in 12 points. Emma Young led all players with nine rebounds, while Booth grabbed eight boards. Brittany Mbamalu pitched in with a team-high three assists.
 
Southeastern took a 31-25 halftime lead after an odd first half that saw the Lady Lions make only one field goal inside three-point range. A layup by Dawsey with 7:34 remaining in the half was the first and only two-point field goal made by SLU in the initial 20 minutes.
 
The Lady Lions netted eight three-point field goals in the first two quarters and grew their lead to as much as 12 points. The Islanders scored the final six points of the first half to cut the halftime deficit to six.
 
Southeastern opened the second half on a 9-4 run, as a trey by Warren stretched the Lady Lion lead to 40-29 midway through the third quarter. However, AMCC ratcheted up the defensive effort for the remainder of the quarter, limiting SLU to just a three by sophomore guard Jaclyn Scholvin and a Underwood free throw, going on a 15-4 run to tie the game at 44-44 heading into the final period.
 
AMCC held Southeastern without a field goal for the first three minutes of the final stanza to take their first lead since the first quarter. A pair of free throws by Warren cut the Islander lead to 54-49 with 5:24 remaining.
 
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi held off the Southeastern rally by going on a 10-0 run over the next two minutes. During the game-clinching stretch, AMCC shot 11 free throws, as SLU was whistled for nine fouls, including three technical fouls - one on Underwood that doubled as her fifth and final foul and two on head coach Errol Gauff.
 
When the game settled down, a Young free throw capped the run and gave the Islanders a commanding 64-49 lead. Southeastern would get no closer than 12 down the stretch and suffered its fifth straight loss in the all-time series with AMCC.
 
Southeastern will return to the University Center on Saturday at 3 p.m. to host UNO for the Alumni Day game that will air on ESPN3. All Lady Lion alumni are invited to return and be honored at halftime of Saturday's game. Postgame, the 1976-77 AIAW National Championship team will be honored on the 40^th Anniversary of its magical season.
 
The men's game follows at 5:45 p.m. and in conjunction with Saturday's doubleheader, the SLU Athletics Ticket Office will offer several ticket promotions. All children ages 12 and under will receive free admission, while middle school, junior high school and high school students who present their local school ID will receive admission for $3. In addition, all first responders and military personnel will receive a free ticket with a valid service ID or if they are in uniform.
 
Saturday's game can be heard live in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9), online at www.LionSports.net/listenlive and via the TuneIn Radio app.