STEPHENVILLE - After starting off the season with a losing record for the first time since 2008, the No. 20 Tarleton TexAnns (2-2) have rebounded with a pair of wins over Heartland Conference foes to even their record.
The TexAnns began their climb out of the cellar with a five-point win over St. Mary's in their home debut last Wednesday before recording a 12-point win over St. Edward's Saturday.
Through four games this season, Tarleton has relied heavily on the 3-ball.
The TexAnns have shot nearly half as many 3-pointers through four games (74) as they did through 14 conference games last season (193) while connecting for just 22 of them (30 percent).
Sophomore Peyton Adamson is leading the 3-point shooting barrage by hitting a team-high 11 deep balls this season in 28 attempts. The next most made among TexAnns is Brianna Bledsoe with four (in eight attempts) and the next most attempted is Lisa Parker (11).
Adamson, a first-year TexAnn from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, is second in the Lone Star Conference with 3-point shots made (11), 11th in 3-point percentage (.393) and 16th in the conference in scoring (13.0) per game.
Defensively, however, is where the TexAnns have struggled the most in the early part of the season.
Through four games, Tarleton has allowed 261 points (65.2 per contest) including the 65 to St. Mary's - the most allowed to the Rattlers since Nov. 16 2008 (69) - and 53 to St. Edward's - the most since Dec. 2, 2008 (61).
Shanae Lowrance has paid early dividends for the TexAnns on the defensive end of the court, leading the team and the Lone Star Conference with 39 rebounds.
This week the TexAnns look to continue returning to form against Lubbock Christian Tuesday before taking flight to Grand Junction, Colo. for a Thanksgiving tournament against a pair of in-region foes.
Lubbock Christian enters Tuesday's 6 p.m. home contest with a record of 2-2 and are ranked No. 17 in the NAIA.
The Lady Chaps are led by senior guard Brittany Roberts' 12.3 points per game, while also getting 12 per contest from Kelsey Canavan, 11.5 per game from Emily Atkins and 10.3 per contest off the bench from Kelsey Hoppel.
The TexAnns defeated LCU in Stephenville last season 74-64. Admission to Tuesday's contest is free with a can food donation.
Thursday morning, the TexAnns will hit the sky for a trip to Colorado where they will take part in the Colorado Mesa Tournament in Grand Junction.
Tarleton begin the tournament against the host Mavericks Friday at 6 p.m.
The Mavericks have also started 0-2 with a pair of three-point losses, including an overtime loss to Sonoma State.
Kelsey Sigl has led CMU in scoring in each of the contests with 19 in the season opener and 28 against Sonoma. The junior forward also led the team in rebounds (8) in the season opener against Chico State.
In Saturday's contest, the TexAnns will play their first ever game against the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs Mountain Lions at 1 p.m.
UCCS has won two of its first three, including a 66-62 win over West Texas A&M, and is led in scoring by freshman Abby Kirchoff with 14 points per game.
Kirchoff scored 21 off the bench in the season opener and poured on 19 off the bench against WT.
All games can be heard on KSTV 93.1 FM at their respective times (all times are central standard).
For more information regarding TexAnn basketball, please visit TarletonSports.com.
