SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Tarleton had yet to play in a close game this season, win or lose, but Monday's game in the Puerto Rico Clasico opener was as close as it could get.
 
With Tarleton and Ball State within striking distance of each other throughout, it was only fitting the afternoon affair at Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico, went to overtime. The Cardinals made big buckets early in the extra period and held off the Texans 80-77.
 
Tarleton (6-4, 0-0 WAC), lost their first overtime game of the season against a tough Ball State team, one that has now won seven straight games to improve to 9-2 on the year out of the Mid-American Conference.
 
Four of Tarleton's five starters reached double figures on Monday, led by Teresa Da Silva's 19 points, adding nine rebounds, six assists and a steal in 41 minutes. Mayra Caicedo recorded 12 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals in 40 minutes. Jenna Dick, making her first start of the year, finished with 11 points (3-6 3PT) and three rebounds. Nyajah Mitchels notched 10 points on 5-of-7 shooting and eight rebounds in 18 minutes.
 
Viktoria Ivanova, who came off the bench for the first time since Nov. 12, responded from a tough stretch of games to the tune of 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting and five rebounds in 21 minutes, tying her season-high in scoring. Starr Omozee added two points, eight rebounds, three assists and two blocks in 33 minutes off the bench.
 
With both teams sporting similar numbers and shooting percentages across the board, Ball State had the main advantages in turnovers (10 to Tarleton's 17) and free throw makes (20 to Tarleton's nine).
 
The Cardinals were led by Ally Becki and Thelma Dis Agustsdottir, who each scored 17 points. Becki added six assists and five rebounds, while Dis Agustsdottir pulled down six boards.
 
Annie Rauch had the game's lone double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
 
Although they're in paradise, Tarleton showed early they were in Puerto Rico to work. The Texans went on an early 9-0 run, with Mitchels scoring six of those points, to take a 9-3 lead just three minutes in. When Ball State got within four at 13-9, the Texans cruised again to a 6-0 spurt to take a 10-point lead, the tied-largest lead of the game for either team. Tarleton led 21-13 after the first quarter.
 
Both teams went back and forth in the second frame, going into the locker room with Tarleton ahead 39-32.
 
The Texans opened up the third quarter with another 10-point lead, 44-34, when the Cardinals responded with an 8-0 run to get within two. Tarleton maintained a close lead the remainder of the quarter to enter the fourth up 58-54.
 
When it was 61-54 Tarleton, Ball State made their biggest push, a 9-0 run to take their first lead since they were up 3-2 in the first two minutes. Over the final 8:30 of regulation, the difference was never larger than a one-possession game. Tarleton led 70-67 with under two minutes to play, but late turnovers and fouls gave the Cardinals the chance to tie it at 70. The Texans had last possession with a chance to win the game, but Dick's three-point shot at the buzzer was off.
 
In overtime, Ball State drained a three on its first possession, and went up five on its next possession on second-chance free throws. Da Silva tried to will her team to the win by scoring all seven Tarleton points in the extra period, but Ball State held strong to take the three-point win.
 
Tarleton is now 14-7 (.667) in non-conference play over the past two seasons. The Texans have their last non-conference game of the year scheduled for Wednesday at 1 p.m. CT to wrap up their Puerto Rico Clasico slate.