SAN ANGELO – The Angelo State women's basketball team won its final home game over Texas A&M-Kingsville 63-56 on Saturday evening at the Junell Center.

The Belles (9-17, 4-12 LSC) won their third game in the last five contests and ended the season with a 6-7 record at the Junell Center. Texas A&M-Kingsville (0-26, 0-16 LSC) were held to 34-percent shooting. ASU hit 43.1-percent from the field and out rebounded the Javelinas 68-32.

Diamalises Rivera led a dominating effort in the paint with 22 points and a career-high 11 rebounds. It is the junior's first double-double of the season and first double-digit rebounding effort of the year.  The Belles outscored TAMUK 36-8 in the paint. KeAnna Kelly added 14 points and six rebounds. Shanna Taylor scored a career-high eight points and five rebounds while Leila Jdily-Ezzad added eight points. All eight players to enter the game scored for ASU. Michelle Rosewell, the lone senior for the Belles, scored four points and grabbed six rebounds in her final home game.  

After being down by 14 at the end of the first half, Texas A&M-Kingsville chipped away and took a 55-54 lead with 3:31 to go in the game.  The Belles would hold the Javelinas to just one point over the final 3:31. A 9-1 run ensued for ASU as Rivera hit a bucket under the basket and was fouled. The junior made the free throw to put the Belles up 60-55 with 1:32 to go in the game. TAMUK would miss three shots and had one turnover. ASU's Ezzad and Kelly hit free throws down the stretch for the 63-56 win.

The Javelinas opened the second half on a 12-6 run to cut a 33-21 ASU lead down to 39-34. Jdily-Ezad hit a jumper and Rosewell followed it with a layup. Rivera capped off the 6-3 run and a 45-34 ASU lead with a jumper. The Belles would be held to just nine points over the next 5:34 as the Javelinas took a 55-54 lead with 3:31 left in the game.

The Belles opened the game with a 9-2 run over the first 3:42 of the game. Four of the five ASU starters scored with Keva Raiford chipping in three points. Kelly's made two free throws to extend the lead to 18-7 at the 7:42 mark. ASU kept the cushion at 10 and took its biggest lead of 14 on Kelly 3-pointer with 1:07 left in the half. TAMUK would hit a jumper with one second left to make it 33-21 at the break.

Kelly scored 10 of her 14 points in the first half. The freshman went 2-for-3 from behind the arch in the first half. Rivera added nine points and grabbed seven rebounds.

Angelo State will now prepare for the LSC Championship to be held in Allen, Texas, starting on Wednesday, March 4. The Belles will be the No. 8 seed and face the No. 1 seed West Texas A&M on Wednesday at 6 p.m.