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TEXARKANA, Texas – The University of the Southwest women's basketball team battled hard on the road Saturday afternoon but came up short against Texas A&M Texarkana, falling 78-54 at the Patterson Student Center. Despite a solid shooting performance from beyond the arc, turnovers and rebounding proved costly for the Mustangs.

Southwest (4-9, 0-7) showcased its perimeter prowess, knocking down 13 three-pointers at a 43.3% clip, led by Karinna Ortiz's five triples en route to a team-high 17 points. Briana Montoya added 13 points and three assists, while Seniya Wilson chipped in 10 points and a team-best four assists. Michaela Ray contributed eight points and three assists, including a key three-pointer early in the fourth quarter.

The Lady Mustangs kept the game competitive through the first half, trailing just 36-30 at the break after shooting 58.3% in the second quarter. However, the Eagles (7-5, 6-1) dominated the paint and the glass, out-rebounding Southwest 51-22 and scoring 42 points inside. Texarkana also capitalized on Mustang miscues, turning 26 Southwest turnovers into 40 points.

Southwest's offense leaned heavily on the three-point line, as the team managed only eight points in the paint and no second-chance opportunities. The Mustangs were held scoreless in bench production, while Texarkana's depth delivered 35 points off the bench.

The Eagles pulled away in the fourth quarter with a 23-10 run, fueled by relentless rebounding and transition play. Breyionce George paced Texarkana with 13 points and 12 rebounds, while Demetria Smith and Chioma Treasure Emeh added eight points apiece.

Southwest will look to regroup as conference play continues on January 3.

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