HAMMOND, La. (Interstat) — In a game defined by a dominant individual performance and a frantic fourth-quarter rally that fell just short, Southeastern Louisiana held off a furious comeback attempt by Texas A&M-Commerce for a 76-71 victory in a non-conference women’s basketball game Saturday at the University Center.

A career-high 29 points from Lihi Azouri proved to be the difference for the home Lions, who withstood a 29-point fourth-quarter explosion from the visiting Lions to even both teams’ records at 2-3.

Southeastern Louisiana appeared to be in complete control through three quarters, building a 49-42 lead. They had opened the game with a 20-point first quarter, capitalizing on a significant early advantage from beyond the arc. Texas A&M-Commerce struggled mightily with its shooting for the majority of the contest, particularly from deep, finishing the game just 4 of 31 from 3-point range.

Azouri, a guard from Herzelia, Israel, was the engine for Southeastern Louisiana, adding seven rebounds and two assists to her game-high point total in 36 minutes of action. Her backcourt mate, Aliyah Collins of College Station, Texas, facilitated the offense effectively, dishing out four of her team’s only two total assists while scoring 10 points.

The story of the game, however, was nearly rewritten in the final period. After being held to 42 points through the first 30 minutes, Texas A&M-Commerce’s offense suddenly ignited. They exploded for 29 points in the fourth quarter, relentlessly attacking the paint and capitalizing on Southeastern Louisiana’s ball-security issues. The visitors scored 40 points in the paint for the game and converted 18 Southeastern Louisiana turnovers into 14 points.

Leading the charge for the comeback was Tiani Ellison of Durant, Oklahoma. The 6-foot-1 forward posted a team-high 21 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and recorded two blocks. Her presence inside was a constant challenge for Southeastern Louisiana, especially during the late surge.

Texas A&M-Commerce also received significant contributions from its bench. Rezia Castillo of Houston, Texas, and Nina Horvath of Oberwart, Austria, each chipped in 10 points. Horvath added six rebounds, while Reza Po of San Bruno, California, also scored 10 points.

Despite the offensive fireworks late, Texas A&M-Commerce was ultimately undone by its shooting inefficiency. The team shot just 38.6% from the field (27 of 70) and a dismal 56.5% from the free-throw line (13 of 23). Their 90.0 offensive rating, scoring 71 points on 79 possessions, paled in comparison to Southeastern Louisiana’s more efficient 104.2 rating, scoring 76 on 73 possessions.

Southeastern Louisiana’s efficiency was bolstered by stellar shooting from key areas. They shot 47.2% from the field (25 of 53) and an impressive 58.3% from 3-point range (7 of 12). They were also clutch from the free-throw line, making 19 of 23 attempts.

Beyond Azouri, Southeastern Louisiana received a strong all-around game from Eryn McKinzie of Fort Worth, Texas, who tallied 14 points and nine rebounds. Natalie Huff of San Antonio, Texas, contributed nine points and four rebounds.

The game was a statistical anomaly in several categories. Texas A&M-Commerce won the assist battle 6-2 and recorded more steals (6-2) and blocks (6-3), yet could not overcome the disparity in shooting accuracy and a rebounding effort that saw Southeastern Louisiana hold a slight edge on the offensive glass, 9-10.

The victory gives Southeastern Louisiana momentum heading into a challenging road game at Baylor on Wednesday, Dec. 3. Texas A&M-Commerce, which had previously suffered lopsided losses to Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, will look to regroup when they travel to face Louisiana-Lafayette on Tuesday, Dec. 2.