ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Junior Katedria Mosley hit a layup with less than a second left to lead the Texas A&M University-Commerce Lions to a 73-72 win over Missouri Western State University in an NCAA Division II South Central Regional semifinal thriller on Saturday night.

Her team trailing by 72-71 with five seconds left, sophomore Britney Jordan brought the ball up court and a collapsing defense by the host Griffons left an open Mosley underneath the basket for the gam-winner.

The Lions, in their first NCAA tournament appearance, advanced to Monday night’s regional final to face the No. 3 seed Washburn (Kan.)

A&M-Commerce improves to 28-8 overall and Missouri Western State ends its season with a 30-4 mark.

“We have great players on our team,” said Jordan. “We play our game and we are in it to win it.”

Mosley scored 15 of her 20 points in the second half to lead three Lions in double figures. She was joined by senior Kanani Marshal and Jordan, who each scored 19 points.

Marshal hit a 3-pointer in each half to become the all-time single-season NCAA Division II leader with 139 3-pointers.

A&M-Commerce outrebounded Missouri Western State 41-39, including a game-high 12 from junior Dominee Evans.

Missouri Western State had three players in double digits, including 23 from Inga Buzoka, 22 from Ashleigh Curry and 10 from Yanique Jarvis. Buzoka also had 10 rebounds.

Trailing by 41-31 at the intermission, the Lions opened the second half by scoring 20 of the first 30 points to tie the game for the sixth and final time. Mosley scored back-to-back baskets for four of her 15 second-half points to put the Lions in front 53-51 with 12:55 remaining.

A&M-Commerce extended its lead to as much as seven but host Missouri Western State would not surrender to the last remaining Lone Star Conference team in the tournament.

The Griffons rallied from a 68-62 deficit, scoring five straight points to cut the A&M-Commerce lead to 68-67 with 2:10 remaining.

On the Lions next possession, Jordan hit her fourth 3-pointer of the game to put the Lions up 71-67 with 1:49 remaining.

A 3-point play by Ashleigh Curry with 58 seconds remaining and layup by Curry with five seconds put MWSU up 72-71 before setting the stage for the game-winning heroics.

A&M-C stings #13 Hornets, 81-73

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – In their first NCAA Division II South Central Regional Basketball Tournament, the Texas A&M University-Commerce Lions showed no signs of tension as they held on for an 81-77 victory Friday night against the No. 5 seed Emporia State Hornets.

“It was a team effort tonight,” said Lion head coach Denny Downing.

Down 77-71 with 58 seconds remaining in the ball game, Hornet guard Michelle Stueve nailed a 3-pointer to pull the Lady Hornets to within three points.

Lion guard Britney Jordan was fouled on the next possession and made one of her free throws.

Another bucket by Stueve pulled the Lady Hornets within two but that was the closest they would get before guard Kanani Marshal nailed both of her free throws as time ran out on the Lady Hornets.

The first half saw the Lions get off to a quick 6-2 start, but the Lady Hornets countered taking a 15-10 lead. A 13-2 run put the Lions up for good throughout the rest of the half as A&M-Commerce led 35-34 lead going into the break.

Marshal hit two 3-pointers in the first half, as she put up 10 points to lead the Lions. Her three rebounds and two steals were big as well.

Forward Tradawn Short was next in line for the Lions, dropping in eight points with three rebounds.

Stueve was the leading force behind the Hornets, staying with the Lions scoring 18 points and pulling down six boards, while going 9-of-9 from the free throw line.

The first half seemed to be more of a defensive battle as there were a total of 16 turnovers between the teams.

The second half was a different story as both teams would come out strong on the offensive end.

The Lions were able to extend the lead to 63-53 with 11:47 to go.

ESU trimmed the lead to within 69-63 at the 7:47 mark before a stalemate between the teams halted the scoring for 3:47.

Jordan broke the tie, hitting two free throws to extend the lead back to eight. Fouls and free throws would last throughout the rest of the game.

“I told the kids with about 2:30 to go during a timeout that its going to come down to free throws,” said Downing. “Marshal, Jordan and (forward Dominee) Evans were huge down the stretch.”

Marshal led the Lions in scoring with 27 points. She hit five 3-pointers, falling one short of tying the single-season Division II record.

Jordan came up with a big second half, scoring 17 points while notching seven of the team’s final 12 points.

“Everybody was excited and ready to play,” said Jordan. “I feel like we are a good team and we are not just going to stop and get complacent here.”

Joining the duo in double-digits was guard Dawn Montgomery as she finished the game with 12 and had a season-high four steals on the defensive end.

The defense for the Lions forced 20 turnovers on the nights as they outscored the Hornets in points off of turnovers 21-9.

Emporia State, ranked No. 13 nationally, finished the season at 22-9.