Going into the Lone Star Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament the Javelinas were the sixth seed going up against the third seed and fifth ranked team in the nation Patriots. The Javelinas would lead a 65-56 upset over UT-Tyler.
In the previous two matchups the Hogs played the Patriots close. Losing by two in their first matchup and seven in their second. In both games sophomore Kaycee Groves led the team in scoring with 15 and 12. Although the women’s team would be without Groves as she was injured in the final game of the season.
To start the game would start with the Javelinas trailing the Patriots 9-11. With a three pointer from Abby Bala the Javelinas would take the first lead of the game and wouldn’t look back after that.
The leader of the early run Abby Bala would lead the Javelinas on a 19-4 run to start the second quarter. Bala would end the first half with 13 points 5-7 from the field and 3-4 from three. Aina Maynou would also head into the locker room with seven points, three rebounds and two assists. The Hogs would go into halftime up 31-26.
The Patriots would show some fight bringing the score to as close as five points. In the second half it was a Shelby Ray party. Ray would score 10 points going 4-5 from the field and 2-2 from three-point land. Janessa Payne, Jordyn Hernandez, and Veyda Lake scored six apiece in the second half to reach the final score of 65-56 Javelinas.
Abby Bala would score only two more points in the second half to finish with 15 but dished out five assists. Ray would end the game with a double double having 15 point and 10 rebounds. Maynou would also finish the game with 11 points, five rebounds, three assists and went 6-6 from the free throw line.
The victory would mark the first conference tournament win since 2017 for the Javelinas. They play again this Saturday, March 8, against the two seeded Lubbock Christian University Chaparrals.