- Box Score

KINGSVILLE – The No. 19 Tarleton TexAnns needed a win Saturday in Kingsville to claim the program's first-ever outright Lone Star Conference South Division Championship, and Tarleton used a big second half start to do just that by winning 88-64.

“I may say 'conference champions' 10 times because it sounds good doesn't it?” said Tarleton head coach Ronnie Hearne. 

Not only was it the ever first outright championship, but the title is the first of its kind for the program that joined the LSC in 1994-95. And knowing the TexAnns were just a victory away from the hardware was not enough to delay the TexAnns preparation for Saturday's contest.

“We talked about having good practices before the game this week, and I knew we would be prepared coming into today's game,” Hearne said. “We talked about how each game is a new challenge. We had to go out and earn it, and they did.”

Tarleton (21-2, 11-0) claimed the win as five players scored in double figures for the TexAnns in the win in Kingsville as Tarleton claimed the title.

“Winning the championship is a self-satisifaction that everyone did their part – from the coaches to the players,” Hearne said. “We all worked together and accomplished something really special for Tarleton and our program.”

Tarleton started the second half with an 11-4 run to jump ahead, and at one point, the TexAnns had doubled up the Javelinas (3-21, 1-11) 34-17 at one point during the run to ease the tension for the purple and white.

“When we came out in the second half and made the run, I started to get excited,” Hearne said. “With about a minute left, Coach [Misty] Wilson and I turned to each other and said, 'We are conference champs.'” 

Trailing by two with 37 seconds expired in the first half, Tarleton's Sonya Sundberg nailed a three to put Tarleton on top. After a free throw by Shonta Dobbins to tie the game at three, Morgan Stehling had a jumper in the paint before Shelby Adamson hit a three to lift the TexAnns to an 8-3 lead. Chelsea Solis had two free throws before the TexAnns rattled off six straight points to take a 14-5 lead. Scoring in the run was Brittnie Haley (twice) and Kelsey Benford.

Victoria Gonzalez had a putback for the home team before Kiara Wright and Lisa Parker each had two free throws for the TexAnns prior to Wright getting a fastbreak layup to stretch the lead to 22-9 with 11:54 on the clock.

The Javelinas then outscored Tarleton 11-2 from Wright's layup to the 5:45-mark to cut the lead to 24-20. The only bucket for Tarleton came on a Wright layup at 9:14. Parker ended the drought with a three at 5:28 to make it a seven-point game. Gonzalez had two free throws to cut the lead to five before Wright and Sundberg had back-to-back layups to make it 31-22 with 4:13 remaining in the period.

After a Novella Thomas three-point play the hard way, Adamson missed two free throws and Benford had one for the TexAnns. Solis had a layup before Ashley Perez had two free throws to cut the lead to three (32-29) with 3:10 on the clock. Adamson then hit a three from the left corner prior to Shonta Dobbins had a jumper. Adamson had two free throws before Benford had a layup to make it 39-31.

After a Thomas jumper, Sundberg converted a layup with 33.6 seconds left in the half. With 14.8 seconds remaining, Dobbins had two free throws, but Sundberg, who led Tarleton at the half with nine points, had two free throws with 3.6 seconds left to put Tarleton ahead 43-35 at the break.

Tarleton opened the second half on an 11-4 run before TAMUK head coach Scott Hyland called a timeout. Tarleton had buckets from Adamson, Haley and Sundberg in the run to take a 54-39 advantage with 16:14 left in the period.

After Gonzalez had a layup for the home team before Halley had back-to-back buckets. Gonzalez got a putback for the Javs before Parker had back-to-back threes from the right side of the floor. Brandy Garcia had an old-fashioned three-point play at 12:08 to cut the score to 66-46, but Benford got a bucket for the visitors.

Thomas had two free throws at 11:40 before she had a bucket almost a minute later after a Wright putback. Adamson then had a three for the TexAnns as did Brianna Bledsoe to make it 74-50 with 10:02 remaining in the half. Adamson then had a layup after a turnover underneath the Tarleton basket on the ensuing inbounds pass. 

Tomika Lynce then got a steal and a fastbreak layup before Sundberg got a steal and later gave the ball to Wright who got a layup to make it 80-50 with 7:41 on the clock. Parker added to the lead with a jumper in the paint at 5:21 before Gonzalez had a bucket on the opposite end. Parker then had a bucket on the return trip down the floor to make it 84-54. 

Gonzalez had a jumper with just over four minutes left, then the Javs got a steal and Meagan Barlow got a three from the left side to make it 84-59.  The last four points for the TexAnns, who were outscored 5-4 to end the game, came on two free throws by Brianna Bledsoe and Jordyn Johnson each. Tarleton claimed the 88-64 victory.

Tarleton was led by Adamson with 19 points while Parker (15), Wright (12), Sundberg (12) and Haley (12) all had double digits. Wright had a double-double as she led the team with 10 rebounds.

Tarleton had 20 assists in the game and averaged .532 from the floor (33-62), .529 from the three-point arc (9-17) and .684 from the charity stripe (13-19).

The Javelinas were led by Gonzalez with 18 points while Solis had 12 and Thomas had 10. Gonzalez also led the team with nine rebounds as Tarleton outrebounded the home team 37-33. 

TAMUK averaged .404 from the field (23-57), .231 from the three-point arc (3-13) and .750 from the line (15-20).

Tarleton will return to action on Monday, Feb. 21 at 6 p.m. in Wichita Falls.