BROWNWOOD — Trailing by one point with 32 seconds to go in the game, the Sul Ross State women's basketball team tied up the score at 77-all with two free throws by Marley Rokas.
After a missed jumper by the University of St. Thomas' Alexya Castillo, Rokas grabbed the rebound and the Lobos sprinted down the court.
Brianna Martin connected with Vania Hampton who landed the game-winning layup with 11 seconds on the clock.
The Lobos were able to hold on for the 79-77 victory over the Celts to extend their winning streak to two to wrap up the Thanksgiving American Southwest Conference-Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Crossover on Sunday afternoon at the Brownwood Coliseum.
There were two lead changes early in the first quarter until Martin hit a clutch three-pointer to put Sul Ross ahead with 7:15 on the clock.
Melody Martinez extended the Lobos' lead to five with a layup that came on an assist from Lauren Lusk.
Two quick 3-pointers by the Celts gave them an 11-10 lead.
Lusk put the Lobos back on top with a layup. The pendulum then swung over to St. Thomas as it gained a one-point lead.
Rokas then landed a layup to put Sul Ross back out ahead, 14-13, with 3:15 on the clock.
Kayley Diaz and Martin made two layups to extend the Lobos' lead to five. Martinez closed out the quarter making a three-pointer to give Sul Ross a 10-point lead.
The 10-point lead grew to 12 in the second quarter after a layup by Lusk with 6:57 on the clock.
St. Thomas fought all the way back to trail by four at the break as it closed out the second frame on a 6-0 run.
The Celts had cut the deficit to within one to start the third quarter.
On a jumper by Lusk, Sul Ross later revamped its lead to five with 6:45 left to go. Sul Ross eventually grew its lead to nine.
St. Thomas used a pair of free throws to come back within five to end the third frame.
Sul Ross led by as much as eight in the fourth quarter before the Celts rallied back to tie the game at 75-all with 1:07 left in the contest.
The Celts later took the lead with 49 seconds to go on a jumper by Nia McGee.
A steal by Martinez led to a foul that sent Rokas to the line for two shots that helped the Lobos turn the tide to secure the win.
Martinez scored 26 points while grabbing six rebounds and tallying five steals. She also shot 10 of 17 from the field.
Rokas added with 15 points and nine boards while Martin chipped in with 13 points and four assists.
Hampton tallied 12 points and grabbed nine rebounds.
The Lobos shot 12 of 13 from the free throw line while grabbing 45 rebounds. Sul Ross made five 3-pointers. Four of the five shots were made by Martin and Martinez.
>> RECORDS: University of St. Thomas (1-6); Sul Ross (3-3)
>> UP NEXT: The Lobos travel to Clarksville, Ark. to open up ASC play against the University of the Ozarks at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1.
