- Box Score

STEPHENVILLE – For the second straight season, Kiara Wright stole the show in Tarleton's final preseason tune before beginning the regular season as the senior center led Tarleton with 23 points and 25 rebounds in just 27 minutes of game time.
 
Last season, Wright and the TexAnns took on the reigning NCAA Division I National Champion Baylor Bears and the then-junior center posted a double-double for the TexAnns. Wright's 20-20 game Saturday night paced Tarleton past NCAA Division III power Howard Payne as the TexAnns cruised to a 90-62 victory over the Lady Jackets.
 
For the night, Wright was 8-12 from the floor and 7-14 from the charity stripe to account for her 23 points and grabbed 19 defensive rebounds and six offensive boards. She also added six assists, two steals and a block.
 
Also shining for Tarleton in her purple and white debut was junior point guard Kathy Thomas.
 
The transfer from Iowa netted 14 points on 5-6 shooting from the floor, including a pair of triples, and 2-2 from the free throw line. She also had three assists.
 
Shanae Lowrance and Karli Moore saw their first action since being lost to season-ending injuries last January. After earning the start, Lowrance recorded 13 points while Moore had eight points and five boards off the bench.
 
Meagan O'Dell (9), Ikepaku Iwobi (8), Morgan Ashmore (6), Raven McGrath (4), Keyra Johnson (3) and Brianna Bledsoe (2) rounded out the scoring for the TexAnns.
 
As a team, Tarleton shot 52.7 percent from the floor while holding Howard Payne to just 29.7 percent from the free throw line.
 
Tarleton will open the regular season Wednesday when they host St. Mary's at 6 p.m.