Stallions Surge in Third Quarter to Defeat Eagles
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
North American (7-8, 3-7) | 18 | 16 | 25 | 18 | 77 |
|
Texas A&M Texarkana (3-12, 3-8) | 15 | 19 | 10 | 14 | 58 |
TEXARKANA, Texas – The Eagles hosted the Stallions of North American University (NAU) for their first game after the new year. Riding a two-game win streak, the Eagles aimed to extend their momentum against NAU. However, a dominant third-quarter performance by the Stallions crushed those hopes, with TAMUT falling 77-58 at the final buzzer.
The Eagles got an early edge thanks to a technical foul free throw converted by Kayla Williams before tipoff. However, Elisa Peralta quickly responded with a basket in the opening seconds, giving NAU a lead they would mostly maintain through the first quarter. The Eagles managed to tie the game at 15 with under a minute remaining, but late free throws and a buzzer-beating layup by NAU secured them an 18-15 advantage heading into the second quarter.
The second quarter mirrored the first, with the Stallions controlling the lead until the final moments. Delfina Misiuna's clutch free throws with two seconds left sent the teams into halftime locked at 34-34.
After the break, the Eagles struggled offensively, going 1-for-10 from the field in the third quarter. Their remaining points came from free throws, allowing the Stallions to capitalize and extend their lead. NAU dominated the period, outscoring TAMUT 25-10 and entering the final frame with a commanding 15-point cushion.
Despite finding their rhythm in the fourth quarter, the Eagles couldn't overcome the deficit. The Stallions' strong third-quarter surge proved decisive, handing the Eagles a 77-58 defeat.
Three Eagles posted double-digit performances. Delfina Misiuna recorded a career-high 15 points and matched her season-high with 9 rebounds. Kayla Williams added 11 points and 8 boards, while Quren Santiago contributed 10 points.
The Eagles now sit at 3-12 overall and 3-8 in conference play. They'll return to the Patterson Student Center this Saturday, January 4, in an RRAC men's and women's doubleheader against Huston-Tillotson at the Patterson Student Center. The women's game tips off at 1:00pm.
