COMMERCE, Texas (Interstat) — Incarnate Word used a strong fourth quarter to defeat Texas A&M-Commerce 71-61 in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game Saturday. The Cardinals led 51-53 entering the final period but held the Lions to just eight points while scoring 20 to secure the road victory at Texas A&M-Commerce Field House before 414 fans. Brynn Lusby led all scorers with 22 points for Incarnate Word. Teammate Raimi McCrary added 16 points and four assists. Nina Horvath scored 15 points for the Lions, and Reza Po added 13. Incarnate Word improved to 13-13 overall, while Texas A&M-Commerce fell to 12-13. The Cardinals swept the regular-season series, having also won the Jan. 15 meeting. Both teams are members of the Southland Conference.

COMMERCE, Texas (Interstat) — In a critical Southland Conference matchup with both teams hovering around .500, the Incarnate Word Cardinals used a dominant defensive fourth quarter to pull away from the Texas A&M-Commerce Lions for a 71-61 victory on Saturday afternoon at Texas A&M-Commerce Field House. The game, witnessed by 414 fans, was a tale of two halves, ultimately decided by a suffocating final period from the visiting Cardinals. After trailing by as many as five points in the third quarter and entering the final frame with just a two-point lead, Incarnate Word held the Lions to a mere eight points on 3-of-14 shooting in the fourth quarter while forcing five turnovers. The most important stretch of the game came early in the fourth. Leading 53-51, Incarnate Word’s offense, which had sputtered at times, found a rhythm. A driving layup by Jorja Elliott, followed by a Madison Cockrell pull-up jumper, pushed the lead to six. After a Lions turnover, Brynn Lusby connected on a jump shot to cap an 8-0 run that extended the Cardinal advantage to 61-51 with 7:37 remaining. Texas A&M-Commerce never recovered, failing to mount a serious threat as their offense completely stalled against a tightened Incarnate Word defense. The Cardinals were led by a stellar performance from sophomore guard Brynn Lusby of Frisco, Texas. Lusby scored a game-high 22 points on 10-of-19 shooting, adding four rebounds in just 24 minutes of action. Her scoring, particularly in the first half, kept Incarnate Word afloat during the Lions’ most productive offensive stretches. Senior forward Raimi McCrary of Allen, Texas, provided crucial all-around play with 16 points, four rebounds, four assists, a block, and two steals in 31 minutes. For Texas A&M-Commerce, the loss spoiled a strong outing from junior guard Nina Horvath of Oberwart, Austria, who led her team with 15 points. Freshman guard Reza Po of San Bruno, California, added 13 points and four rebounds, while J’Unti Franklin of Natchitoches, Louisiana, contributed 10 points and a team-high seven rebounds. The game began with Incarnate Word establishing an early edge, closing the first quarter with a 19-13 lead. The Lions responded in the second quarter, outscoring the Cardinals 19-16 behind 50% shooting from the field to narrow the gap to 35-32 at halftime. Texas A&M-Commerce carried that momentum into the third quarter, erupting for 21 points. A three-pointer from Ahmya Boyce, who finished with seven points and four assists, gave the Lions their largest lead at 46-41 with 2:23 left in the period. However, the Cardinals closed the quarter on a 7-2 spurt, capped by a Lusby layup and free throw, to reclaim a slim 51-50 lead heading into the decisive fourth. While the Lions shot a respectable 42.6% from the field for the game and made 8 of 19 three-point attempts, they were undone by 14 turnovers and a significant rebounding deficit. Incarnate Word won the battle on the glass 41-30, including a commanding 14-8 advantage in offensive rebounds, which led to 13 second-chance points. The Cardinals also excelled at the free-throw line, converting 10 of 11 attempts. The victory improves Incarnate Word’s record to 13-13 overall and marks their second win over Texas A&M-Commerce this season, having also defeated the Lions 70-63 on Jan. 15. The Cardinals have now won three of their last four games. Texas A&M-Commerce falls to 12-13 with the loss, snapping a two-game home winning streak. Incarnate Word will look to continue its push above .500 when it hosts Stephen F. Austin on Thursday. Texas A&M-Commerce aims to regroup on the road at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, also on Thursday.

Preview: Cardinals, Lions Meet in Key Southland Conference Clash COMMERCE, Texas (Interstat) — Two teams jockeying for position in the Southland Conference standings will meet Saturday when the Texas A&M-Commerce Lions host the Incarnate Word Cardinals in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game. Tipoff is set for Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at the Texas A&M-Commerce Field House. Both teams enter with identical 12-12 records in all competitions, making the matchup critical for momentum ahead of the conference tournament. The Cardinals (12-13 overall) are coming off a 71-65 road win at Northwestern State on Thursday, while the Lions (12-12) look to rebound from a 71-53 home loss to Houston Christian the same night. Incarnate Word won the first meeting this season, 70-63, at home on Jan. 15. The Cardinals have shown a potent offense recently, averaging 71.3 points over their last three contests. A key player for the visiting Cardinals is guard Madison Cockrell, who is coming off a 21-point performance in 30 minutes against Northwestern State. She has scored 19 or more points in three of her last five games, providing a consistent scoring threat. The Lions will counter with guard Ahmya Boyce, who leads the team in assists and is a steady presence in the backcourt. Boyce logged 38 minutes and dished six assists in the loss to Houston Christian. Texas A&M-Commerce has been strong at home this season, with recent wins over Southeastern Louisiana and Northwestern State in Commerce. Protecting their home court will be a priority against a Cardinals team that has won two of its last three. The game will feature two of the conference’s more balanced teams, with both seeking a winning record and improved seeding for the upcoming Southland Conference tournament.