CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (Interstat) — Asha Walker scored a game-high 27 points and Marissa Shelton added 21 as Texas A&M-Corpus Christi rallied from a double-digit second-half deficit to defeat Incarnate Word 70-64 in a Southland Conference women’s basketball game Thursday night at American Bank Center.

The Islanders, who entered the game with just three wins, improved to 4-15 overall. The Cardinals fell to 10-9.

The most critical phase of the game was a decisive fourth-quarter surge by the home team. Incarnate Word, fueled by a 26-point third quarter, had seized a 50-45 lead heading into the final period. The Cardinals’ advantage grew to 52-47 early in the fourth after a Trinity Slocum jumper for the Islanders.

From there, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi embarked on a game-changing 17-2 run over the next five and a half minutes. The spurt was anchored by their two stars. Shelton converted a fast-break jumper off a Slocum assist, and after a Torie Sevier free throw, Walker drained a crucial 3-pointer from a Shelton pass to push the Islanders ahead 57-54 with 4:52 remaining.

The Cardinals, who had been efficient in the third, went ice cold, managing only a single Destiny Whitaker free throw during the Islanders’ run. Incarnate Word missed five consecutive field goal attempts and committed two turnovers as the Islanders built a 64-54 lead, their largest of the night.

Incarnate Word did not go quietly. Jorja Elliott, who led the Cardinals with 24 points, scored on a driving layup and later hit a transition jumper to cut the deficit to 65-61 with 1:10 to play. The Cardinals then forced a turnover and Whitaker, who scored 16 points off the bench, buried a 3-pointer to make it a one-point game at 65-64 with 58 seconds left.

The comeback attempt was thwarted at the free-throw line, where the Islanders excelled all night. Shelton hit two free throws with 43 seconds left, and after an Incarnate Word miss, Walker sealed the victory by making a pair with seven seconds remaining. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi finished 22 of 30 from the line, while Incarnate Word was 20 of 30.

The game was a tale of contrasting halves and statistical anomalies. The Islanders committed 21 turnovers, leading to 24 points for Incarnate Word. The Cardinals also recorded 11 steals and 11 assists compared to just five for the Islanders. However, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi offset those disadvantages with superior shooting efficiency and interior play. They shot 38.9% from the field to Incarnate Word’s 32.2% and outscored the Cardinals 22-14 in the paint.

Walker’s 27-point performance was a season-high for the junior from Fremont, California, surpassing her previous best of 13 points set just a week earlier. She played all 40 minutes, adding three assists. Shelton also played the full 40, contributing three assists.

For Incarnate Word, Elliott’s 24 points came on 8-of-22 shooting. Madison Cockrell dished out five assists. The Cardinals’ offense stalled in the fourth, scoring just 14 points on 5-of-17 shooting after their 26-point third-quarter outburst.

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi started strong, leading 17-11 after the first quarter behind eight early points from Walker. The Cardinals chipped away, taking a brief lead in the second quarter before the Islanders carried a 29-24 advantage into halftime. The third quarter belonged entirely to Incarnate Word, as they outscored the Islanders 26-16, setting the stage for the dramatic final-quarter reversal.

The win avenges a 90-73 loss the Islanders suffered at Incarnate Word just five days prior on Jan. 24.

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi hosts Houston Christian on Saturday. Incarnate Word returns home to face Texas-Rio Grande Valley, also on Saturday.