- Box Score
STEPHENVILLE – The Tarleton women's basketball team stormed back from an 18-point deficit to steal a 73-71 victory from Texas Woman's University Monday night in Wisdom Gym.
The TexAnns showed some rust from their 13-day layoff, allowing the Pioneers to jump out to an early double-digit lead over the first eight minutes of play. At the 12:05 mark, TWU held a 16-6 lead over host Tarleton, who was unable to get any rhythm offensively. For most of the first half, the TexAnns struggled to just keep the game within reach, while the Pioneers tried to run the floor and add to their advantage.
Tarleton's ugly first half ended with a 41-31 TWU lead, despite shooting 40 percent from the floor and out-scoring the Pioneers 14-12 in the paint. Unfortunately, the TexAnns were unable to stop TWU, who shot 50 percent from the floor and hit six three-pointers.
Shelby Adamson led the TexAnns in the first half with 10 points, but 13 Tarleton turnovers hindered the hosts from running their offense. One positive they were able to take away from the first half was the fact that seven TexAnns scored three or more points, while 11 players received time on the court.
The second half was the same as the first, but with the two teams switching roles. Tarleton out-scored TWU 42-30 in the second 20 minutes, after getting out-scored 41-31 in the first 20 minutes.
The Pioneers jumped out to another fast start in the second half, pushing their lead to its highest total of the game at 18 with 17:44 on the clock. A crucial time out by Tarleton head coach Ronnie Hearne and a new line-up ignited a spark in the TexAnn huddle and proved to be the turning point in the contest.
Five-bench players came on for Tarleton and helped the TexAnns crawl back from the seemingly insurmountable deficit. With the supporting cast stepping up big for Tarleton, the whole team used the momentum to diminish the 18-point lead as the clock melted away in the second half.
With a combination of a stifling defense and an effective offense, the TexAnns were able to tie the game up at 64-64 on a Kelsey Benford layup with 5:14 left in the contest. Benford then added a pair of free throws at the 3:22 mark to give Tarleton its first lead of the game, 68-67.
Over the last minute and a half, the TexAnns out-hustled and out-scrapped the Pioneers, ending the game on a 5-2 run.
Just to add drama to an already tumultuous game, TWU found themselves with the ball and 7.5 seconds on the clock in a 73-71 ball game, but Benford blocked the Pioneers' game-tying layup attempt as the buzzer sounded.
Overall, Adamson led the TexAnns with 19 points, four steals and four assists, while hitting 9-of-10 from the free-throw line. Benford dominated the paint for Tarleton, collecting 11 points, 10 rebounds, two blocks and two steals. Brittnie Haley also provided 13 points and five boards, while Morgan Stehling scored 10 points.
As a team, Tarleton shot 42.9 percent from the floor and hit 22 of their 33 free-throws in the game. On the other hand, TWU shot just 41.4 percent after shooting 50 percent in the first half, and went 2-of-10 from deep.
Five different players scored 11 points for the Pioneers, while Kayla Weaver led the way with 10 boards and five assists. TWU's three-point shooting was their advantage in the first half, but the shots did not fall in the second half for the Pioneers.
After the game, assistant coach Misty Wilson talked about how the TexAnns never gave up despite the 18-point disadvantage.
“At the 12 minute mark in the second half, there was just a total change of momentum,” said Wilson. “We just kept climbing back and in the end, were able to get the win.”
With the 13-day layoff, there was bound to be some inconsistencies for the TexAnns, but confidence was never an issue.
“We stress defense heavily and we were disappointed that we weren't getting any stops,” said Wilson. “Once the defense came along, the offense came with it. We just had to do what we do best, and that's play defense.”
With a full line-up of healthy players, Tarleton was able to use 12 players in the game, including two players (Tara Towns and Tomika Lynce) who saw their first action of the season.
“Our rotation was going to be different with a couple of girls back, and we knew we would have a deeper team to work with,” said Wilson. "That will be an advantage for us moving forward."
Tarleton enters the Christmas break atop the Lone Star Conference South Division with a 7-1 record. The TexAnns will return to action Thursday, Dec. 30 in San Antonio as they will take on St. Mary's at 4 p.m.
