Box Score STEPHENVILLE – Just 10 months after suffering a season-ending knee injury on January 12, Shanae Lowrance returned to the Tarleton State lineup for the season opener and drained an overtime buzzer beater to give the TexAnns a 74-73 victory over St. Mary's.
 
"Shanae got her fourth foul early and had to sit out for a long time," said Tarleton head coach Ronnie Hearne. "We finally got a break and I told Coach (Misty) Wilson we have to get her in. She played the last eight minutes with four fouls but Shanae's such a great kid, a great leader and you like to see good things happen to good kids.
 
"Also, I feel like I helped her make that last shot because I was on my knees begging for it to go in," added Hearne.
 
Tarleton was trailing 73-69 with just one minute left on the clock, following a St. Mary's 3-pointer, but the TexAnns answered right back with an old-fashioned 3-point play to bring the TexAnns to within one at 73-72.
 
The TexAnn defense held up on the next possession as Wright grabbed her 19^th rebound of the night to give Tarleton the final possession and set up Lowrance's game-winning field goal with one second on the clock.
 
With 5:34 left in the game, Tarleton was holding on to a seven-point lead at 62-55 but the Rattlers went on an 11-4 run down the stretch to tie the score at 66-66 with 47 seconds left.
 
Tarleton had a chance with 32 seconds left but turned the ball over, giving the Rattlers the ball with a chance to win the game on the last shot.
 
Newcomer Kathy Thomas handled the Rattler's top-scorer in open space with time winding down and blocked the final shot of regulation into the open arms of Wright to force the overtime period.
 
Wright dominated with her first double-double of the season, scoring 32 points and grabbing 19 rebounds. This marks the fourth consecutive 30-point game for Wright dating back to last season and 15 straight double-doubles dating back to last year. She has had a double-double in every game since January 19, 2013.

Wright also moved into 18th place on Tarleton's all-time scoring list, passing Tarleton Hall of Famer Kirsten Curtis, and moved into fourth place on the all-time rebounding last by passing Kaelie Butler. Wright is already the school's NCAA rebounding leader.
 
Thomas also made a mark in her Tarleton debut, scoring 18 points on 6-13 shooting. Thomas and Wright combined for 50 of Tarleton 74's points.
 
Brianna Bledsoe (8), Lowrance (8), Meagan O'Dell (4) and Karli Moore (4) rounded out the scoring for Tarleton.

For Tarleton, this marks the 19th consecutive home opening victory - giving them a win in every home opener since their second season as an NCAA program.
 
The TexAnns will return to action this weekend for the first annual TexAnn Tip-Off Classic present by Whataburger. They will host Fort Lewis at 5 p.m. Friday and Lubbock Christian at 5 p.m. Saturday.