Eagles Dominate Saints of Our Lady of the Lake in Statement Win

TEXARKANA, Texas - The Texas A&M University-Texarkana Women's Basketball team hosted the Saints of Our Lady of the Lake University this afternoon at the Patterson Student Center, located in the heart of the A&M-Texarkana campus.

In their first meeting this season, the Saints narrowly edged out the Eagles with a dramatic and-one in the final seconds, securing a 66-63 victory. However, the Eagles came ready for redemption and delivered a commanding performance, earning a 75-30 victory in today's rematch.

"Tonight was a complete team effort. Holding OLLU to 20% shooting, out-rebounding them in a dominant fashion, and finishing with 18 assists and 13 steals highlights the focus and discipline our team brought to the game today," praised Head Coach Cory Hitchcock.

The Eagles set the tone early with an intense and disciplined defense that limited the Saints to just five points in the first quarter, allowing only one field goal while forcing seven turnovers. A relentless second-quarter effort saw the Eagles hold the Saints to single digits again, extending their lead to a staggering 39 points by halftime, with the score at 40-11.

After halftime, the Saints found some rhythm, posting their strongest quarter of the game. However, it was far from enough to overcome the deficit. The Eagles continued to dominate and pushed their lead to as much as 48 points with just two minutes left in the game.

Kayla Williams led the Eagles with her eighth double-double of the season, recording 17 points and 16 rebounds. Chi'onne Dailey added 13 points, and Chioma Treasure Emeh contributed with four steals to fuel the Eagles' defensive dominance.

Hitchcock reflected on the team's performance, saying, "The energy on both ends of the floor was outstanding, and this win reflects the growth and the confidence we are developing as a team. Our players are starting to see what we are capable of when we bring relentless defensive energy, passion, and purpose to the court. This is a big step in the right direction, and we will stay focused on continuing to grow as a team and finish the season strong."

The Eagles' victory marks their second consecutive win, improving their record to 5-15 overall and 5-11 in conference play. The team will hit the road for their next game, traveling to Dallas to face the Tigers of Paul Quinn College. Tip-off is scheduled for Thursday, January 23rd, at 5:30 pm.