STEPHENVILLE – Looking to take sole possession of third place in the Lone Star Conference standings, Tarleton was outscored 19-4 over the opening seven minutes of the fourth quarter and ultimately fell to Texas A&M-Commerce 89-74 Tuesday.
 
Commerce would ultimately hold a 24-6 advantage over the final 10 minutes of the game to bring the game to its final score.
 
The teams traded buckets over the opening five minutes with Tarleton maintaining an early lead before Tarleton before the reigning LSC Player of the Week Mackenzie Hailey started a 7-0 TexAnn surge, capped off by a Bailey Wipff layup and a Kylie Collins 3-pointer to give the TexAnns a 16-7 lead with 3:22 left in the opening quarter.
 
Commerce cut the deficit down to two heading into the second period and took a one-point lead 28 seconds into the new frame.
 
A pair of free throws from Trejouir Wilson got Tarleton going in the second quarter and started a 19-8 TexAnn run that put the TexAnns up by double digits for the first time in the game. The Lions slowly cut into the deficit over the rest of the opening half, but the TexAnns went into halftime with a 45-40 advantage.
 
Tarleton maintained a lead or kept it tied through the entire third quarter before heading into the fourth with a three-point edge.
 
Bailey Wipff tied a career high scoring effort for Tarleton, leading the team with 22 points on 9-16 shooting from the floor to go along with five assists. Hailey and Ikpeaku Iwobi each boasted double-double performances as Hailey scored 11 points and grabbed 10 rebounds and Iwobi went for 14 points and 11 boards.
 
Tiara Tatum also chipped in double figures as the junior scored 12 points. Baylee Peck (3), Collins (3), Shelby Mankins (3), Travanti Downes (2), Hannah Allen (2), and Wilson (2) rounded out the scoring for Tarleton.
 
The TexAnns will have another quick turnaround as Tarleton hosts Texas Woman's Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in Wisdom Gym.