- Box Score

KINGSVILLE – The Tarleton TexAnn basketball team (4-5, 2-0) took on the Javelinas of A&M-Kingsville Wednesday night in Kingsville in just the second conference game of the season.  Tarleton escaped from Kingsville with a 80-65 victory thanks to a big second half.

The TexAnns shot out of the gate and took a commanding lead early.  With a 7-2 lead in the first 2:29, Tarleton controlled the tempo and stuck to their game plane of running a patient offense.

The five-point advantage quickly turned into a 24-10 lead for the TexAnns, who continued to try and put the game out of reach.  As the clock ticked under 10:00 left in the first half, the visitors stayed consistent and kept the lead in double digits.

Tarleton used a very balanced attack and relied heavily on free throws to add to their point total.

With 7:03 to go in the first half, Kingsville started to chip away at the TexAnn lead.  A couple of blocks on the defensive end and some clutch three pointers on the offensive end pulled the Javelinas within eight points.

Tarleton fought off the unstoppable Kingsville attack and managed to get to the break with their smallest lead since the 14:28 mark.

Tarleton entered the half just in time with a 40-33 advantage, holding back a surging Javelina offense.

Through the first 20 minutes, the TexAnns shot 46.7 percent from the floor and 72.7 percent from the free throw line.  They held the Javelinas to 35.5 percent from the field and nine turnovers.

Morgan Stehling led all scorers at the break with nine points to go with three rebounds.  Lisa Parker chipped in eight points, while Brianna Bledsoe added five points and four rebounds.  Tara Towns contributed on both ends of the floor with five points and two steals.

Breanna Gonzalez was the leading scorer for Kingsville with six points.

As the second half got underway, it was Tarleton took over momentum again and pushed the seven-point lead to 16 points by the 15:11 mark.  The TexAnns had a 54-38 advantage and unlike the first half, did not want to give that up.

After watching the Javelinas claw their way back in the first half, the TexAnns knew that they would have to keep their foot on the pedal if they wanted to put away Kingsville for good.  Tarleton was able to do just that and with 10:25 left in the game, the TexAnns took their first 22-point lead with a 66-44 advantage.

Tarleton even managed to take the margin to 30-points with 7:36 on the clock when Peyton Adamson nailed a deep three to make it 74-44.

Kingsville attempted to hang with Tarleton, but the visitors' firepower proved to be too much down the stretch.

The TexAnns picked up the victory with a final score of 80-65.

Tarleton shot 48.1 percent from the field and hit 22-of-32 free throws.  They also held Kingsville to 30.3 percent from the floor and 22.7 percent from three-point range.

Lisa Parker led all scorers with 14 points and went 4-for-5 from three-point land.  She also added four assists to the effort.  Morgan Stehling contributed 13 points, while Peyton Adamson added 12 points and Shanae Lowrance added 10 points, five rebounds, two blocks and two steals.

Brandi Clark and Roslyn Robbins both had 10 points to lead the Kingsville attack.

The TexAnns extended their winning streak to two straight games and improved to 2-0 in conference action.

Tarleton returns home to host Incarnate Word Saturday, Dec. 10 at 6 p.m. in Wisdom Gym.

For more information regarding the 2011-12 Tarleton TexAnn basketball season, check out TarletonSports.com.