Sloppy Contest Doesn't Go Way of Women's Basketball

LAREDO, Texas — A combined 58 turnovers between the two teams kept either team from gaining much momentum, but the 25th-ranked Texas A&M International Women's Basketball team was able to gain the edge in the second quarter and hang on for the 71-54 win over St. Mary's on Saturday.
 
A trio of Rattlers (2-10, 2-4 Lone Star Conference) scored in double digits, led by freshman Vani Sancho (Baton Rouge, La.) with a career-high 13 – including all eight of the team's points in the second quarter. 
 
Joining Sancho in double figures was freshman Taylor Haggan (Parker, Texas) with 12 and senior Ariah Powell (Detroit, Mich.) with 11 points. Haggan led the team with seven rebounds, while senior Teanna Huggins (San Antonio) dished out a team-high six assists and blocked both shots in the game.
 
The Rattlers held a 16-15 lead after the first quarter. Six different players each had one basket with Powell, freshman Ramsey Robledo (San Antonio) and junior Stina Svilberg (Tallinn, Estonia) each having a triple.
 
The Dustdevils ended the second quarter on an 8-0 run to take a 38-24 lead into the locker rooms. Sancho scored all eight of the Rattlers points in the quarter, hitting a pair of triples and a layup to lead the team at the break with 10.
 
StMU outscored TAMIU 18-to-15 in the third stanza. Haggan scored six and had a pair of assists, playing nine of the 10 minutes. The teams combined for 17 turnovers in the final period, but TAMIU iced the Rattlers at the free throw line, making 5-of-6.
 
The Rattlers finally return home after four straight on the road, hosting Texas Woman's on Jan. 11 at 5:30 p.m. 
 
News & Notes

• Taylor Haggan has scored at least nine and grabbed at least five rebounds in all 12 games this season. She ended Saturday's game with 11 points and seven boards.
• St. Mary's made a season-best eight three-pointers, bettering the previous high of seven from Thursday night in Kingsville.
• The Rattlers bench outscored the Dustdevils bench, 23-to-6. Vani Sancho scored 13 of those 23 points in a career-high.
• Texas A&M International is the fourth team this season appearing in the WBCA top 25 or receiving votes the Rattlers have faced. Colorado School of Mines was not ranked or receiving votes in the preseason poll, but has climbed to #11 since.