Stafford, TX – On a chilly December evening at The Stable, the North American University Lady Stallions (NAU) fought valiantly but fell just short, 58-55, in a nail-biter against the Texas College Steers. The battle between NAU's Head Coach N. Davis and Texas College's J. Evans showcased high-octane action, fierce defensive efforts, and a taste of unfinished business heading into the new year.

The Lady Stallions opened the first quarter on fire, using their defensive tenacity to hold Texas College to just eight points. Keasia Robinson established herself early in the paint, grabbing offensive rebounds and converting second-chance points to lead NAU to a 14-8 edge.

However, the second quarter saw the Steers finding their rhythm, led by Cre Mc, who drained three triples and racked up 11 points by halftime. Texas College outscored NAU 19-11 in the second quarter, heading into the locker room with a narrow 27-25 lead.

Key Performances

For the Lady Stallions:

• Keasia Robinson: The backbone of NAU's effort, Robinson posted a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds, including 5 offensive boards that kept the Stallions in contention.
• Aliyah Solis: Showed her trademark poise, contributing 7 points, 3 rebounds, and hitting 4-of-6 free throws, keeping NAU alive in the closing minutes.
• Maurdaisha Powell: Dished out 6 assists while adding 7 points and 5 rebounds, demonstrating her versatility on both ends of the floor.
• Kayla Dickey: The defensive disruptor tallied 6 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals off the bench, energizing her team during critical stretches.

For Texas College:

• Cre Mc: Lit it up from deep, knocking down 3-of-6 three-pointers on her way to a team-high 16 points. Her hot hand proved decisive in the second and third quarters.
• Pyburn: Dominated inside with 16 points and 11 rebounds, providing Texas College the physicality they needed to stave off NAU's late push.
• Kelly: Controlled the glass with a game-high 14 rebounds, while chipping in 8 points.

Crunching the Numbers

• Shooting Efficiency: NAU outshot Texas College from the field, hitting 39.2% of their shots compared to 33.9% for the Steers. However, Texas College's six made three-pointers and a solid 63.6% from the free-throw line gave them the edge.
• Rebounding Battle: Texas College narrowly won the rebounding war, 36-34, with a crucial 13 offensive rebounds that led to second-chance points.
• Turnovers: The Lady Stallions struggled with ball control, committing 22 turnovers to Texas College's 16. These miscues ultimately tipped the scales in favor of the visitors.

Turning Point

Trailing by 11 points entering the fourth quarter, the Lady Stallions ignited a furious comeback, fueled by Robinson's dominance in the post and a timely three-pointer from Lauryn Williams. NAU outscored Texas College 22-13 in the final frame, clawing back to within one possession with under 30 seconds remaining. A clutch steal by Victoria Moore gave the Stallions a chance to tie, but a contested three-pointer at the buzzer fell just short, sealing the narrow defeat.

Coach's Corner

"We played with heart and grit, especially in the fourth quarter," Coach Davis reflected. "Our defense stepped up, and we showed the kind of resilience that will carry us far. We'll use this as motivation heading into the break and come back ready to compete."

Looking Ahead

The Lady Stallions will take some time to regroup over the holidays before kicking off their revenge tour with the second round of conference play starting on January 4th, 2025. The team's growth and determination promise an exciting stretch of games as they aim to climb the conference standings and assert their dominance.

Get those 4-fingered hooves up, Stallion Nation, and mark your calendars! We'll see you in the new year for what promises to be an electric ride to redemption. Gooooooo Stallionsssss!!!