FORT WORTH, TX: The Texas Wesleyan University Women’s basketball team (15-3, 10-2 RRAC) kept their home streak alive, double dipping the #8 Langston University Lady Lions (17-2, 11-2 RRAC) 60-57 at the Sid Richardson Center on Monday night. 

The Lady Rams came into this game fresh off of a 59-54 upset at Langston, their first ever win at Langston, ending the Lady Lions’ perfect season in the process. Tonight the Lady Rams knocked Langston out of the top spot in the conference standings.

The Lady Lions went on a 12-2 run to start the game, capped by a traditional three point play by Ayanna Jackson. Langston kept a lead throughout the first half leading by as much as 13 with 4:31 with another Jackson layup.  

Ironically that would be the last field goal of the half for the Lions, as Wesleyan started a comeback. Nicole Terral hit a three to get it started Brittany White also hit from downtown and added a layup to finish a 10-0 run to end the first half cutting the lead 32-29.

The Lions shot 43.3 percent from the field in the first half, while Lady Rams shot only 32.4 percent.  

Texas Wesleyan kept the pressure on Langston to start the second half, and Octavia Mullins gave the Lady Rams their first lead of the night with a layup to make it 40-39 with 14.21 remaining in regulation. Wesleyan posted a 9-0 run that spanned over three minutes of game time making it 49-41 capped by a pair of White free throws.

The Lady Lions made it a nail-biter with a Jackson layup to tie the game at 53 with five minutes remaining. Kristi Alexander hit a jumper for a 55-53 Lady Ram advantage, before Langston answered with a Tayla Vaughn layup to tie the game again with three minutes left. White quickly answered with a jumper in the middle of the lane, but Jackson got another bucket to go tying the game at 57 with 1:11 remaining in the game.  

Wesleyan killed some clock, and Terral rose up hitting a clutch mid-range jump shot to make it a 59-57 Ram lead with 41 seconds on the clock. Great defense by the Lady Rams kept Langston from driving to the basket, forcing them to shoot the outside shot sealed the 60-57 win.

The Lady Rams shot only 37.9 percent from the field, but the Lady Lions shot 35.5 percent in the defensive struggle. Wesleyan was outshot in points off the bench 15-6, something that has not happened very often this season. Wesleyan was also outscored 40-22 in the paint, but led points off turnover 20-15 and out rebounded Langston 44-38 

Mullins led the Lady Rams with 16 points, 14 assists, picking up her fifth consecutive double double in the process. Terral added 12 points, White put in 10, and Alexander had 10 points, eight boards in the win.

Texas Wesleyan will defend their home court once again this time against LSU-Shreveport. The Lady Pilots hold the top spot in the conference standings and are receiving votes at 29 nationally. Tip off between the two teams will be on Saturday, January 28 at 2:00 p.m.