After a 19-9 record last season, the Texas A&M-Commerce Lions were picked to finish second in the Lone Star Conference. They received four first-place votes, but their rival Central Oklahoma was picked to win the league. The Lions had five players return from last year’s team including senior All-American Britney Jordank, who had 19.6 ppg last season and senior forward Nola Taylor with 6.5 rpg last season. The team also added seven newcomers with junior transfers Nakazi Glover who had 15.9 ppg with Kilgore Junior College and Desiree Waller had 16.7 ppg and 2.5 spg with Angelina Junior College being the two new stars for the team. The Lions took their new and improved roster up against Southern Arkansas in their season opener.
The Lions showed everyone they should have been picked to finish first as they punished Southern Arkansas 88-57. They used a strong first half to carry them to a home win and led the entire game. Senior Britney Jordan looked more like the other Jordan as she made it rain with 30 points, with 23 coming in the first half. She went 5-7 from behind the arc with all five of them coming in the first half and also added five assists and seven rebounds. Desiree Waller added 15 points as Nakazi Glover, Alisha Williams and Genevieve Campbell all scored in double figures. The offense wasn’t the only thing the Lions did right. They forced Southern Arkansas into 32 turnovers with Jordan and Campbell getting six steals apiece for the Lions. They also controlled the boards for the entire game out rebounding Southern Arkansas 44-30. Nola Taylor proved her dominance in the paint by getting eight rebounds in just 22 minutes. Lametrius Edwards and Angelique Robinson contributed to the win by getting six rebounds apiece. Kmaria Hobbs led Southern Arkansas with the game’s only double-double as she had 14 points and 10 rebounds. Aralee Smith added 14 points as well but, was also responsible for 10 turnovers.
The Lions came out on fire on both sides of the court. They went on a 21-5 run in the first six minutes of the game.Waller and Jordan acted more like Pippen and Jordan as they sparked the early run combining for 13 of the 21 pionts. The Lady Lions controlled the game early with their defense by not allowing Southern Arkansas to score in the first four minutes of the game. Southern Arkansas kept the game within striking distance, but the Lions went on another run to close out the half. This time it was a 23-2 run in the final five minutes. Britney Jordan sparked the run just like before, hitting from every spot on the court. She scored 13 of the 23 points on the run. Nakazi Glover finished the run with a three pointer at the buzzer. The Lady Lions shot 52.5 percent from the field and was 9-13 from long distance. The defense sparked the Lions’ offense as the converted 27 points off of 16 turnovers by Southern Arkansas.
In the second half, the Lions’ offense was not as sharp as they were in the first half, but they didn’t need it. The defense continued to force Southern Arkansas into turnovers and bad shots. The offense finally got going after Glover hit an open three and scored seven straight points for the Lions to take a 70-41 lead with only 10 minutes left in the game. Southern Arkansas never got closer than 21 points in the second half. The Lions’ defense wouldn’t allow them to come back. They held SAUW to 33.3 percent field goal shooting in the second half and only 37.3 percent for the entire game.
The Lions started on the right path to winning the conference and becoming champions. They have a 1-0 record and have another home game next.