Box Score
WAXAHACHIE, TX:  The Texas Wesleyan University women's basketball team (1-2) pushed 25th ranked LSU-Shreveport (1-0) to the edge before the Pilots squeaked by with a 62-60 win at the SAGU Classic on Saturday.
 
LSUS jumped out to a quick 12-2 lead before the Rams ran off eight unanswered points to get back in the game.  The lead changed hands three times in the remainder of the half.  LSUS' Kiara Taylor drained a three to tie the game at 22, but Amy Moody got a steal and Takoia Larry knocked down two free throws to close out the period with a 24-22 Texas Wesleyan lead.
 
The second half saw a pair of tie scores and three more lead changes as neither team could gain control.  With 2:38 to play, Kashay Barnes hit a three to bring the Rams within a point at 57-56.  After an LSUS bucket, the Rams responded with a ToiEasha Cooper jumper, a defensive stop, and two free throws from Larry to take a 60-59 edge with 1:20 on the clock.
 
With 34 seconds remaining, Taylor hit one of two at the line to tie the game at 60.  The Rams were unable to convert the front end of a one-and-one on their end and LSUS was able to play for a final shot.
 
Shanovia Gamblin missed that shot, a three with eight seconds to play, but Dionecia Warr came up with a huge offensive board and put-back for her only field goal of the game.  That left the Rams with six seconds to work with, but Cooper's buzzer beater was off the mark and LSUS escaped with the 62-60 win.
 
For the game, the Rams outshot the Pilots 35.3% - 28.6% from the field.  The Pilots won the battle of the boards 51-47, while Texas Wesleyan held a 21-15 turnover margin.  Texas Wesleyan led 22-18 in points in the paint and 23-8 in points off of turnovers.
 
Barnes led all scorers with 18 points.  Larry added 10 points, six rebounds, and five assists.  Kayla McCray added five points and nine rebounds to the effort.
 
LSUS was led by Taylor's 16 points on 5-of-10 3-point shooting.  Gamblin finished with 15, and Byroneshia Santiago finished with 12 points and nine rebounds.  Warr scored four points on 1-of-9 shooting from the floor and 2-of-2 at the free throw line.
 
The Lady Rams will continue action at the SAGU Classic on Saturday.  They will meet McPherson College at 1:00 p.m. in SAGU's Full Life Center.