KINGSVILLE – Freshman Mallory Moeller posted her first collegiate double-double, but a late surge by Texas A&M University-Kingsville lifted the Javelinas to a 77-70 win over St. Mary’s University in women’s basketball action at the Texas A&M University-Kingsville Thanksgiving Day Tournament, Friday night at the Steinke Center.

Moeller (Fr., Seguin) hit on 7-of-10 shots from field and 5-of-6 shots from the free throw line to score 19 points. She also pulled down 13 rebounds to post the double-double. Three other Rattlers scored in double figures in the game with Juanita Merchant (Sr., Angleton) scoring 12, Farren Fox (So., Marble Falls) picking up 11 and Rachel Jones (Jr., Little Rock, Ark.) picking up 10 points.

A 5-0 Rattler run at the end of the first half sent the teams into the locker room tied at 33-33 and set up a back-and-forth second half. Down 38-36 at the 18:18 mark, Jones keyed a 7-0 run with a pair of layups to give St. Mary’s a 43-38 lead. However the Javelinas responded with 7-0 run of their own to take a 45-43 lead with 13:47 left in the contest.

A Moeller three-point play gave the lead back to the Rattlers at the 12:52 mark. The teams continued to trade baskets, and the lead, until St. Mary’s hit on four straight free throws to take a four-point edge with 10:28 left. TAMUK responded with a 10-0 run that gave them a 62-55 lead with 7:02 to play. Again, back came the Rattlers with Merchant hitting a three-pointer and a layup to help the Rattlers cut the lead to just one at 64-63 with 3:25 left. But the Rattlers were finally out of rallies at that point. TAMUK hit on 11-of-14 free throws over the last 1:39 to ice the game.

Four Javelinas scored in double figures in the game, led by Dyana Bullinger with 14 points. Lana Toki scored nine points and pulled down 11 rebounds.

With the loss the Rattlers fell to 1-3 overall this season, while TAMUK improved to 3-0. St. Mary’s will wrap up play at the TAMUK Thanksgiving Tournament when they play Concordia University-St. Paul on Saturday at 4 p.m.

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