The Texas A&M University-Commerce women’s basketball team dropped its first two games of the season over the weekend in the 2009 Drury/Lady Panther Sleep Inn Classic in Springfield, Mo.
It began Friday night when they lost to hosts Drury University 98-60.
Drury (2-0) dominated the game from the start, as they immediately went on a 10-2 run and were up 57-33 at halftime. Despite the slow start, A&M-Commerce senior Nakazi Glover was able to put up 15 points to lead the Lions. Juniors Mattilyn McIntryre and Genevieve Campbell also scored double-digit points in the game, with 14 and 10 respectively.
Four of Drury’s players had point totals in double-figures, and senior Lindsay Ballweg, who tallied a game high 23, led them all. Caitlin Shouse scored 16 points, and Ja’Nell Jones had eight assists on her way to scoring 10 points. As a whole, Drury shot 64.3 percent from the field and completely dominated in rebounding with 42, compared to A&M-Commerce’s 24.
The Lions then had to match up against Michigan Tech, who was ranked No. 1 in the Preseason USA Today/ESPN Div. II Coaches Poll the following Saturday. Despite sophomore Tiffany Mitchell’s 15 points and 12 rebounds for her first career double-double, A&M-Commerce fell 71-51.
With just under 10 minutes to go in the first half, Michigan Tech (3-0) went on a 14-4 run that ultimately decided the game. Seniors Danae Danen and Katie Wysocky, who each scored 22 points in the win, led the Huskies.
McIntyre had 14 points and four rebounds for the Lions, while Campbell managed nine points and four rebounds. This is the first time the Lions have started out 0-2 since the 2003-04 season. The first two games of that season were against Div. I opponents Centenary and UT-Arlington.
A&M-Commerce plays away to fellow LSC opponents Texas A&M-Kingsville in their next game on Friday, Nov. 27, at 7 p.m.