SAN ANTONIO - Texas Wesleyan University (4-1) defeated Our Lady of the Lake University (1-4) 66-55 in Friday night's contest.
The first quarter saw the Saints jump out to an early 7-2 lead with some early jumpers. Kameryn Phillips and Nala Richardson answered the Saints with a three pointer and layup of their own as the Rams took an 8-7 lead with just over three minutes to play in the opening quarter. Phillips lead the Rams in scoring down the stretch with four more points to give the Rams a 17-12 lead going into the second.
In the second quarter, the Saints got out to a hot start as they outscored the Rams 8-6 with points inside the paint. A layup from Phillips and two made free throws from Kennedy Holmes helped the Rams extend their lead to 27-22. A three pointer from Peyton Foster and free throws from Sophia Hurtado rounded out the Rams scoring as they held a 32-26 lead going into halftime.
Coming out of the half, Kyla Speights hit an early three to get things started for the Rams offensively, but was quickly answered with a 14-2 run from the Saints to give them a 40-37 lead. The Rams fought back with some help from Speights and Phillips in the paint to take a 43-42 lead as both teams were scoreless in the final 2 minutes and 43 seconds. The Saints outscored the Rams 16-11 to close the gap to a one point game.
In the fourth quarter it was all Rams as Speights and Jenae Moore got the scoring started for the Rams. The early scoring was followed by back-to-back threes from Speights and Richardson to extend the Rams lead to seven. Phillips scored several in the paint as well to help the Rams outscore the Saints 23-13 in the fourth quarter to finish the game with a 66-55 win.
Phillips led the Rams with 24, followed by Speights with 12 and Hurtado with seven. Speights and Holmes both had four assists to help facilitate the Rams offense. Phillips led the Rams with eight rebounds, followed by Holmes with seven. Phillips also tallied five steals and Hurtado contributed three blocks in the Rams victory.
The Rams return to action tomorrow against Texas A&M University-San Antonio in San Antonio at 3pm.
