STEPHENVILLE – The TexAnns got a big spark in the form of a near-triple double from sophomore forward Mackenzie Hailey, who led Tarleton to a 72-58 win against Midwestern State in Thursday's Lone Star Conference opener.
 
Hailey had a career night in just her sixth game as a TexAnn as the sophomore from Burleson poured in 21 points on 6-10 shooting from the floor, including 1-2 from downtown, and 8-9 at the charity stripe while grabbing 10 rebounds and swiping six steals.
 
She wasn't alone in her scoring effort as Tarleton got 17 points from Bailey Wipff, 14 from Tiara Tatum, and a career high 11 from Travanti Downes off the bench. The combination of Ikpeaku Iwobi (6) and Baylee Peck (3) rounded out the Tarleton offense.
 
After Midwestern scored the first bucket of the game, the TexAnns turned up the defensive intensity by holding the Mustangs scoreless over the next six minutes of the contest. Meanwhile, a Hailey layup got the Tarleton scoring started the TexAnns went on to build a 15-2 lead over Midwestern's scoreless drought.
 
Tarleton kept the momentum rolling in the second quarter as Tarleton opened the new quarter on a 10-0 run to take a 28-8 lead with 5:45 left in the opening half. Midwestern clawed back but the TexAnns took a 12-point lead into halftime at 34-22.
 
The lead stayed between 12 and 17 throughout the third quarter and Tarleton opened the fourth quarter with an old-fashioned three-point play to extend the TexAnn lead to 20 with 8:36 left in the game. Midwestern pulled within 13 but would get no closer as the TexAnns went on to start league play 1-0.
 
As a team, Tarleton shot .393 from the floor, including .357 from downtown, and .731 on 19-26 shooting from the free throw line. The Tarleton defense forced Midwestern to turn the ball over 26 times, which Tarleton turned into 27 points.
 
The TexAnns will look to keep the good times rolling Saturday afternoon with a 2 p.m. showdown against Cameron in Wisdom Gym.