WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Palm Beach Atlantic women's basketball team played its final home game of the 2022 calendar year today against visiting Texas A&M International University. The Sailfish fell to a late fourth-quarter Dustdevils run, losing 72-71 to drop to 6-4 on the season.

The Sailfish got off to a hot start from behind the three-point line for the second straight game as they hit five threes in the opening quarter to jump out to a 23-17 lead. Dallas Carter hit two early ones as she finished eight points on the afternoon. PBA shot 62 percent from the floor, 8-of-13, in the opening ten minutes of play while holding TAMU to just five makes and seven first-quarter turnovers.

PBA was strong once again in the second quarter, as they outscored the Dustdevils 18-16 in the second ten minutes of play. Six different 'Fish scored in the quarter as PBA had a balanced offensive attack. TAMU was kept alive by their success at the free-throw line as they went 12-for-12 in the first half while PBA only took seven and hit on five of their attempts. Nevertheless, the Sailfish led at the half 41-33 as they looked to take their winning streak to three games.

It was a back-and-forth third quarter as the Dustdevils cut into the Sailfish lead, but PBA always seemed to have an answer to build the lead back to double-digits. PBA cooled off from the floor shooting just 30 percent in the quarter but was aggressive enough to get to the foul line 12 times and knocked down nine. 

Up double digits heading into the final quarter, the Sailfish gave up a 7-0 run to start the fourth as TAMU cut the deficit to two quickly. Rai Brown did work in the second half as she finished with 25 points inside for the Dustdevils. PBA countered down low with Ashleigh Boulin who had six big points while the game was on the line late. Boulin and Ayuso were the offense late for the Sailfish but the team struggled as a whole with just 12 fourth-quarter points and seven turnovers in the final ten minutes. PBA had the ball up one with 30 seconds left but turned it over and then the Dustdevils scored a driving layup with seven seconds to go up by one. Alma Danielsson had a driving floater as time expired but the shot rimmed out as PBA fell by one.

Ayuso finished with a team-high 19 for the Sailfish on an efficient 5-of-9 shooting. Boulin was the other lone Sailfish player in double-figures with 12 while Danielsson chipped in with nine and Carter and Jillian Schenk each had eight. PBA finished 43 percent from the floor on the day and hit on 9-of-24 three-point attempts. TAMU won the game at the free-throw line as they finished 25-of-26 from the stripe.

The Sailfish have a break before they return to play at Tampa on Dec. 29. The Sailfish have just Sunshine State Conference games remaining as they play a Spartans side that is 11-0 and ranked inside the top-10 nationally.