PHOENIX – Tarleton had their work cut out for them going into GCU Arena, and the start to the game did them no favors.
The Texans fell behind 11-0 over the first five minutes and never could find their way back into the game, losing 70-51 at Grand Canyon on Thursday. Tarleton dropped their fifth straight contest to fall to 6-8, 0-3 in WAC play. GCU improved to 10-4, 2-1 in the conference.
Teresa Da Silva led Tarleton with 19 points (4-9 3PT) in 30 minutes.
Nyajah Mitchels tallied eight points on 4-of-7 shooting and four rebounds.
Mayra Caicedo recorded five assists and three points.
Chloe Callahan led the bench with six points on two late three-point makes. Also off the bench were
Elise Turrubiates with four points and five steals, and
Starr Omozee, who finished with four points, six rebounds and three steals.
Tarleton forced a season-high 28 turnovers, but the Texans were outshot 26-of-47 (.553) to 16-of-50 (.320) and outrebounded 39-25.
Da Silva was the only Texan to score in the first quarter, draining two three-pointers to cut Tarleton's 11-0 deficit to 11-6 with three minutes left. GCU ended the frame on a 9-0 run to lead 20-6 going into the second. Da Silva ended up scoring the first 11 points for Tarleton. Mitchels hit a jumper at the 3:50 mark for the first points by someone else. GCU led 40-22 at the break.
Like the UTA game, Tarleton's energy in the third quarter payed dividends, getting the Texans as close as 13 with three minutes left in the frame. However, GCU ended the quarter on a 7-0 run to go up 20 entering the fourth, 53-33. Tarleton never stopped fighting in the final frame, but the result was never in doubt.
Aaliyah Collins paced the Lopes with 14 points on 7-of-8 shooting, to go with three rebounds and three steals. Olivia Lane led the reserves with 10 points on 3-of-3 shooting, to go with three rebounds.
The Texans will conclude their three-game road trip on Saturday in Las Cruces with a battle against the New Mexico State Aggies at 5 p.m. CT. NMSU has won four of its last five games and has started WAC play 2-1 with road wins at UTRGV and Utah Valley.
