- Box Score
EDMOND, Okla. – The Tarleton TexAnns remained perfect on the road this season with an 86-74 Lone Star Conference crossover victory at Central Oklahoma Thursday.
The win in Edmond, Okla. improved Tarleton's record to 10-1 on the season as the TexAnns moved to 4-0 away from Wisdom Gym, despite being called for 12 fouls through the first 18 minutes of the second half to UCO's four. The Bronchos ended up with five fouls in the second half because they were stopping the clock to lengthen their chances.
“We didn't play perfect tonight, but we played hard, and we got the victory,” said Tarleton head coach Ronnie Hearne. “Anytime you can get a win over Central Oklahoma, especially here in Edmond, it's a good win.”
Tarleton, who claimed its second straight victory over UCO, took care of the ball with only six turnovers, and the TexAnns outrebounded the home team 41-34.
“I thought the depth we have at the post position was a key tonight,” Hearne said. “Plus, our guard play was pretty good, and we made plays when we need to do so. We went to the boards pretty well tonight, especially on the offensive end. We had some quality play from several of our girls tonight, and then helped lead to the victory.”
The win was the first for the TexAnns in Edmond, Okla. since Jan. 11, 2007 (68-54).
Tarrington Oakes started the scoring with a three 37 seconds into the game before Shelby Adamson and Sonya Sundberg had back-to-back buckets, a layup and a three-respectively. Tarleton had the lead (5-3) with 17:55 when Oakes had another three followed by a fastbreak layup by Adamson. Alyssa Fuxa and Kelsey Benford traded baskets prior to a three by Britney Morgan put the Bronchos ahead 11-9 with 14:58 on the clock.
Tarleton then went on a run with Morgan Stehling recording a layup before two free throws from Adamson and a Stehling fastbreak layup. Tarleton led 15-11 with 12:37 on the clock. The two teams traded points, but the TexAnns stayed on top until Oates had a bucket at 8:14 to give the home team a 20-19 advantage.
Adamson and Kiara Wright had back-to-back layups for Tarleton to return the lead to 23-20 with 7:17 remaining in the first half. In the first 13 minutes of the game, the two teams combined for 45 points, but the two squads would total just nine total points over the next eight minutes, mostly with free throws.
With the score tied at 27 with 4:11 on the clock, Lisa Parker had the front end of a one-and-one, but she missed the second. Fuxa had a layup and two free throws to return the lead to the Bronchos, 31-28. Stehling traded a three with a jumper by Oakes before Tara Towns had a three for the Texans with 1:27 on the clock to give Tarleton a 34-33 lead. Fuxa and Stehling then traded threes before Fuxa gave the Bronchos the lead at the break with two free throws to make it 38-37 UCO.
Brittnie Haley had her first bucket of the game to start the second period before Beckley and Fuxa had baskets for UCO to make it 42-39 UCO. Tarleton then went on a run. Stehling had a three and a layup before Wright and Adamson added layups. Benford then got her own putback to make it 50-42 with 16:44 on the clock.
Beckley stopped the run with a layup on the opposite end, but Adamson had a three from the top of the key to push the score to 53-44. A free throw by Kylie Mayes was followed by a Benford jumper in the paint. After Fuxa had a layup, Jenna Harris had a putback and Benford added two bonus shots. Morgan had a three for the home before Parker did the same on the opposite end. Tarleton led 62-50. Mayes had a free throw before Towns had a three and Wright had a three-point play the hard way to give the TexAnns a 68-51 advantage.
UCO scored the next four points before Adamson and Oakes traded points. Stehling and Adamson then had the next four points before Mayes had a layup for the Bronchos. Benford and Stehling had back-to-back baskets before Davis had a layup for the home team to make it 78-61 with 6:07 on the clock.
Fuxa had a jumper before a Davis three and two free throws by Fuxa that cut the lead to 10, 78-68 with 4:14 remaining in the game. Haley had a layup at 3:23, but on the opposite end of the floor with a clean block, she was called for her fifth foul. Beckley then sank two free throws to make it 80-70.
Benford found Adamson for a layup to increase the lead to 12, but a Courtney Allen three cut the lead to nine. On a loose ball, Sundberg was called for her fifth foul, joining Harris and Haley on the bench with five fouls. Beckley hit the backend of a two-shot foul to make it 82-74 with 1:34 on the clock.
Wright was fouled to stop the clock at 1:23, and the TexAnn freshman hit both bonus shots to stretch the lead to 10. After a defensive rebound by Wright on the other end, Towns was fouled after an outlet pass with 56.6 seconds on the clock. The junior hit both of the one-and-one shots to make it 86-74.
Beckley was called for her fifth foul with 30.8 seconds on the clock, sending Adamson to the line for Tarleton. The junior missed the front end of the one-and-one, and UCO threw it away for the second straight trip down the floor. Tarleton stalled to run out the clock and take an 86-74 victory.
Stehling led the team with 21 points while Adamson finished with 20. Benford and Wright each had 12 points for the TexAnns as Benford was one rebound short of a double-header, leading the team with nine boards.
Tarleton averaged .478 from the floor (32-67), .471 from the three-point arc (8-17) and .609 from the charity stripe (14-23). Tarleton outscored the opponent 44-24 in the paint and 26-14 off the bench.
UCO was led by Fuxa with 19 while Oakes had a career-high 14 points. Beckley finished with 16 points after averaging 20.7 points coming into the contest.
The Bronchos averaged .434 from the field (23-53), .450 from the arc (9-20) and .704 from the line (19-27).
The TexAnns will return to action on Saturday, Jan. 8 at No. 7 Northeastern State. Tip-off in Tahlequah, Okla. is set for 2 p.m.
