Thrilling Finish: Eagles Outlast Jaguars 82-81, Williams Sets New Milestones

TEXARKANA, Texas – The Texas A&M University-Texarkana Women's Basketball team secured their first victory of the new year with a thrilling 82-81 win over their intra-system rival, the Texas A&M University-San Antonio Jaguars.

The Eagles dominated the boards, out-rebounding the Jaguars 52-18, including an impressive 27 offensive rebounds. These second-chance opportunities resulted in 31 points, a crucial factor in the game's outcome.

The matchup was a nail-biter from start to finish, featuring 14 ties and 16 lead changes. It all came down to the final seconds to decide the winner.

Kayla Williams led the Eagles with a career-high 34 points and 21 rebounds, setting the tone for an unforgettable performance. Senior Kayla Williams also etched her name in the record books, breaking two school records: she is now the all-time leader in rebounds with 477 and the all-time leader in free throws made with 158.

The game began with the Jaguars striking first on a jumper by Tamya Whitemon, but Chi'onne Dailey quickly responded, kicking off a back-and-forth battle throughout the opening quarter. Sparked by Quren Santiago's perfect 3-for-3 shooting from beyond the arc, the Eagles ended the first quarter with a slim 19-18 lead.

The second quarter mirrored the first, with both teams exchanging baskets. The Jaguars edged out the Eagles 23-21 in the period, heading into halftime with a 41-40 advantage.

The Eagles turned the tide in the third quarter, delivering a strong performance to claim their largest lead of the game with just over six minutes remaining. TAMUT outscored the Jaguars 25-22, with Kayla Williams accounting for 11 of those points.

Despite being narrowly outscored 18-17 in the fourth quarter, the Eagles held firm in the closing moments. With five seconds remaining, TAMUT clung to an 82-81 lead. The Jaguars managed to get off a final shot, but it rattled off the rim as the buzzer sounded, securing the Eagles' hard-fought victory.

With the win, the Eagles improve to 4-15 overall and 4-11 in conference play. They return to action this Saturday, January 18th, with a 1:00pm tip-off at the Patterson Student Center.