- Box Score

STEPHENVILLE – Tarleton's first exhibition of the season turned out to be a nailbiter, but the TexAnns persevered to take the 67-63 win in their first live action of the season Wednesday night.
 
"It's kind of what you expect for the first game of the season," said head coach Misty Wilson. "For some of the younger girls, I think nerves might have played a part but I saw some good things and I saw some things that we obviously need to work on. I knew we still needed some work, but now we have some specific things to work on."
 
Tiara Tatum enjoyed a career night after earning the starting nod as the junior from Fairfield poured in 16 points on 6-10 shooting from the floor and 3-5 shooting from beyond the arc. She added four assists, which was one short of tying true freshman Kylie Collins for the team high in that category, and grabbed three rebounds.
 
"Tiara did a great job tonight," said Wilson. "She really made some good decisions with the ball and she was an offensive spark when we needed it."
 
Travanti Downes also reached double figures in scoring off the bench as the senior scored 11 in 18 minutes of work on 5-7 shooting from the floor to go along with five rebounds. Mackenzie Hailey and Ikpeaku Iwobi each chipped in nine points while Bailey Wipff scored seven. Iwobi added a team high 10 rebounds as well.
 
Shelby Mankins gave the TexAnns an eight-point, eight-rebound off the bench while Baylee Peck (7) and Collins (2) rounded out the scoring.
 
Tarleton will play one more exhibition bout this weekend when the TexAnns head to Austin to square off with NCAA Division I #8 Texas at 2 p.m. in Gregory Gym. The TexAnns will open the regular season on Friday, November 11 at 5 p.m. in Wisdom Gym against Missouri S&T.