- Box Score

STEPHENVILLE – Before the 2011-12 season started, the Tarleton TexAnns were predicted to finish the regular season as the best team in the Lone Star Conference.
 
That vote of confidence came to fruition Saturday night when the TexAnns (20-8, 17-3) claimed the LSC Conference Championship with an 85-71 win over Abilene Christian (12-14, 7-13) in the final home game for the four Tarleton seniors.
 
This win by Tarleton was the last in Wisdom Gym for Shelby Adamson, Tara Towns, Lisa Parker and Morgan Stehling, who wrap up their Tarleton careers with a 47-7 home record in four years.
 
The loss by Abilene Christian ended the Wildcats' season and snapped a three-game winning streak, which ACU was riding entering Saturday's affair.
 
Tarleton and ACU battled back-and-forth early with four ties over the first 4:27, but free throws by the nation's leading FT shooter, Peyton Adamson gave Tarleton a lead they would not relinquish.
 
Holding a slim 18-16 lead with 12:28 left in the opening half, Parker drained a 3-ball to start an 8-0 Tarleton run to extend the lead to 26-16.
 
ACU cut the Tarleton lead to single digits with 1:17 left, but Peyton hit a four-point play with 47 seconds left to give the TexAnns a 13-point lead at the break.
 
Tarleton opened the second half with an 11-4 run to push its lead to 20 at the 15:29 mark.
 
The Wildcats cut the deficit to 14 with 10:19 left, but Parker hit a pair of free throws to start a 16-0 Tarleton run an extend the lead back to 30 with 5:15 left.
 
With the game well in hand, the seniors returned to the floor one last time together with over a minute left and left the court for the final time in Wisdom to a standing ovation by the TexAnn faithful.
 
All five Tarleton starters cracked double figures, led by Peyton and Kiara Wright with 16 each. Wright also recorded her seventh double-double of the season with 15 rebounds and was four steals shy of a triple-double.
 
Parker, Shelby and Shanae Lowrance each added 11 points.
 
For a complete box score, click the link at the top of this release.
 
Tarleton will advance to the LSC Championship Tournament next week where they will play Eastern New Mexico Mar. 1 at 8:30 p.m. at the Event Center in Allen.
 
For a live radio broadcast from Allen, tune into KSTV 93.1 FM or listen live at TarletonSports.com.