CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Gaining speed in the second half, the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi women's basketball team gave an all-team effort in a dominant 83-63 win over McNeese Thursday night in the American Bank Center.
The Islanders (11-5, 4-1 SLC) had five players score in double figures, the first time the program has done so since 2014. Graduate Alecia Westbrook, senior Mireia Aguado, and junior Tymberlin Criswell all led the way with 12 points, while senior Paige Allen contributed 11 and junior Nabaweeyah McGill got to 10. As a whole, the Islanders were 32-of-69 from the field (.464) and dished out 23 assists through that.
Westbrook also got the double-double with 11 rebounds to help the Islanders to a 52-27 advantage on the glass. It is the second game in a row that A&M-Corpus Christi grabbed over 50 rebounds, and fifth time this season.
24 of those 52 came on the offensive end, a season-high for the team and just six shy of matching the program single-game record. Sophomore Bruna Anguera came off the bench to grab seven offensive boards, her career-high.
McNeese (4-14, 0-5 SLC) stayed in it early to trail by just six points at the half as the Cowgirls shot over 33.3 percent from the three-point in that time. They were led by the 22-point performance from Emilia Tenbrock.
A fast start by McNeese was answered with the three-pointer by senior Sasha Shishkina to finally reverse the lead for the Islanders 7-5. Allen drew the foul on her made basket to push it up three more before junior Annukka Willstedt drilled the three to cap a 10-0 run. Allen laid it in at 1:39 to make it a 17-9 game in the first but a late jumper by the Cowgirls got them above 10.
McGill got the putback at 8:22 in the second to keep the Islanders ahead 21-15. Though, McNeese responded with a run of their own to take over 22-21 at 7:48. It wouldn't last long as Allen's and-one sparked momentum for the Islanders who scored the final go-ahead points for the rest of the night. Anguera connected with Aguado on the steal who converted on the fastbreak bucket for a 36-30 lead with 1:09 remaining in the first half.
Out of the break, Westbrook converted on the second chance for a 42-33 lead. Criswell's and-one gave A&M-Corpus Christi its first double figure lead of the night, which only grew from there. Shishkina from downtown made it a 58-43 game at 1:21 before she immediately stole in away and got it to Aguado for another two points.
Willstedt and Criswell both hit shots from beyond-the-arc to propel the Islanders to a 68-49 lead in the fourth. Criswell scored on the takeaway with 5:25 remaining for a 74-53 lead and Shishkina finished the night with another swished three-pointer as the Islanders ended with the 20+ advantage.
The Islanders will remain home to host Nicholls Saturday at 1 p.m. in the American Bank Center.
NOTES
- A&M-Corpus Christi is now 14-9 all-time over McNeese and 10-2 when playing the Cowgirls at home. The Islanders have not lost to the Cowgirls at home since the 2010-11 season.
- The Islanders are now 8-2 at home this season, 233-150 all-time at home, and 99-75 in the American Bank Center. With seven home games remaining on the schedule, they are on track to posting its third consecutive season to win at least 10 games on their home court.
- The Islanders move to 10-0 this year when they score 60 or more points. They have scored at least 50 points in every game this season, the first time since 2018-19 that the Islanders have scored at least that many in each of the first 16 games of the season. It marks just the second time this season they scored 80+ points in a game.
- It is the first time the Islanders had five players score in double figures since March 13, 2014 which ironically, also happened against McNeese.
- Westbrook submitted her ninth double-double of the season, 38th in her career, and second in the last three games. Entering the night, she was ranked 14th in the NCAA in the active career list of double-doubles.
- Aguado recorded her eighth double figure scoring game of the year, 10th in her career, and fourth in the last five games. She is averaging 11.4 points per game in SLC play so far.
- Criswell turned in her third double figure scoring game of the season but first in Southland Conference play. Her five made field goals matched her season-high, first set against Texas State on Nov. 26.
- Allen registered her sixth 10+ scoring game of the year, 37th in her career, and third in the last five games. She has grabbed at least six rebounds in every SLC game this season.
- McGill submitted her sixth double digit scoring game of the season, 15th in her career, and second in a row. She entered the game leading the league in blocks at 1.6 per game, and will improve after blocking McNeese three times.