KEARNEY Neb. – As the Cinderella story of the 2007 NCAA Division II Elite Eight, the Texas A&M University-Commerce Lions fell short of their first ever national championship when the Clayton State Lakers downed the Lions 60-55 to end their historic season.
“This season by far was not disappointing,” said Lion guard Dawn Montgomery. “I’m very proud of everyone on this team.”
The Lions finish the season with the best record in the programs history with a 28-9 mark and making their first NCAA tournament in the 35-year history of the team.
Laker forward Crystal Brown made a lay-up with 2:37 remaining in the second half, while getting fouled on the play. A missed free throw was rebounded by the Lakers before a loose ball bounced away from the action.
Lions guard Kanani Marshal dove after the ball and was landed on by a Laker player. After the ball was grabbed by Clayton State and the play stopped, Marshal layed injured on the court.
For the remaining 2:16 and down three, the Lions were without the record setting three point shooter.
Missed jumpers and turnovers hurt the Lions in the final minutes of the game, as the Lions were forced to foul and hope for missed free throws.
Laker guard Nikkisha Pritchett and guard Sharon Wiles were able to hit the pressure free throws and never let the Lions get back within three.
An energetic first half played an advantage for the Clayton State Lakers as they were able to take a 29-28 advantage over the Lions going into the halftime break.
The Lions were able to open up the game with a 4-0 lead, as forward Tradawn Short and guard Britney Jordan were able to connect on jumpers.
Clayton State followed that run by taking their biggest lead of the game by nine points, 15-24 at the 9:14 spot
A 7-0 run by the Lions got them back in the game as Short hit a lay-up in the paint followed by a 3-pointer from Kanani Marshal. Jordan shot a jumper to get back within one before the Lions eventually tied the game 26-26 with 2:55 to go in the half.
A three by Laker guard Alecia Humphrey put the Lakers up by three and held on to the lead going into the break.
Center Lynette Jackson had a presence down low in the first half dropping in eight points, five rebounds and two blocks.
Forward Crystal Brown was right behind her with seven points and two assists.
Short kept the Lions in the game with 10 points, while Jordan was able to put up eight.
To open the second half, the Lions were able to regain the lead with an 8-2 run and take their biggest lead of the game at five points.
Clayton State would not back down answering with a 7-2 push and eventually taking the lead for the rest of the game.
Short, who finished the game with 18 points and five rebounds, led the Lions on the night.
Jordan was the only other Lion in double figures with 12, as she dished out three assists and had three steals.
Lone Star Conference Player of the Year and senior Kanani Marshal finished her career with the Lions with nine points, seven rebounds, seven assists and three steals before getting injured in the final minutes.
Crystal Brown led the Lakers with 15 points and four rebounds. Teammates Pritchett and Jackson joined her in double figures with 12 and 10, respectively.
The outsized Lions were able to out rebound the Lakers at a 49-33 advantage, with 25 coming on the offensive end. However, the Lions were not able to capitalize, as they only were able to put up 15 points off of the offensive glass.
The quick and tall Laker defense held the Lions to only 31.9 percent shooting from the field, and were only able to hit four 3-pointers on 30 attempts.
“Give them(CSU) credit,” said Lions head coach Denny Downing. “I thought we got open looks, call it nerves or whatever you want to call it, I think it was just Clayton State putting a lot of pressure on us.”
Four seniors leave the Lions as Marshal, Short, Montgomery and guard Alicia Johnson are out of eligibility and move on from their college career.
“I can’t tell you how proud I am of this senior group,” said Downing.