SAN ANGELO, Texas – The Angelo State women's basketball team avenged their early season defeat to Texas A&M International, beating the Dustdevils 83-56 this afternoon at the Junell Center.
 
The Belles improve to 11-11 on the season, their first time hitting the .500 mark this season, while move to 8-3 in Lone Star Conference play. TAMIU falls to 14-9 on the year and 5-6 in the LSC.
 
An outstanding rebounding performance by the Belles saw them collect 49 total rebounds to the Dustdevils 24. For the Belles, 19 of those boards came on the offensive glass, leading to 18 second chance points. ASU dominated the paint on both end, scoring 44 points in the paint compared the Dustdevils 24.
 
The Belles shot 49 percent from the field, adding 23 assists and 12 steals on the afternoon. Sawyer Lloyd scored a game high 23 points to go along with eight rebounds and an assist. Tayjanna McGhee-Pleasant had near double-double with 10 points and eight boards.
 
The Dustdevils came out firing in the first quarter as three straight triples put them ahead 16-7. Seven points by Lloyd and a layup by Blakely Gerber cut the lead to just two before the quarter came to a close with the Dustdevils ahead by four.
 
A Payton Brown free throw brought the Belles ahead in the midst of an 11-0 run which gave the home team the advantage 27-20. The Belles closed out the first half with seven straight points to take a 33-25 lead into the break.
 
Madeline Stephens was all over the stat sheet on the afternoon with six points, 11 rebounds, four assists, and five steals. Blakeley Gerber added 14 points and Brown had 15 points and six assists to wrap up the Belles in double figures.
 
TAMIU cut the lead to seven with 6:03 to go in the third quarter. The Belles went on a 12-0 run thanks to six points apiece from Brown and McGhee-Pleasant in the final 2:43 of the third quarter to take a commanding 55-35 lead into the final frame.
 
In the fourth, the smallest the Dustdevils would cut the lead to was just 19 points. ollowing an Ashlyn Sharp three pointer with 2:06 to go in the quarter, the Belles lead swelled to its largest at 32.
 
The Belles are on the road for three games next week, beginning with a quick turnaround as they face St. Mary's on Feb. 14^th at 3:30 p.m.