ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The Texans battled back in the fourth quarter to give themselves a chance at The Pit in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Sunday afternoon, but a tough third quarter proved too much to overcome in their 64-55 loss to the Lobos.
Tarleton State (1-2) outscored New Mexico (3-0) 22-11 in the final frame to get back in it, but a five-spot (20-5) in the third put the game out of reach.
This was the first ever matchup between Tarleton State and New Mexico, and the Texans' first game against any active Western Athletic Conference program.
It was a tough task going in for the Purple and White, who had just played Texas Tech in Lubbock a mere 44 hours prior. Not to mention, the Lobos entered the contest 34-4 (.895) at home since the 2020-21 season.
The game started evenly, tied 8-8 midway through the opening frame with
Teresa Da Silva scoring five of Tarleton's early points. Then New Mexico went on an 8-0 run over 80 seconds of action to take a lead they wouldn't relinquish. UNM led 21-11 after one.
Tarleton State got back in it in the second. After falling behind 29-16 with seven to play in the first half, the Texans went on their own 8-0 run to get within five.
Andjela Bigovic had five of the eight points, setting her up for a big overall performance. It remained a five-point game at the break, 33-28 New Mexico.
In the third quarter, the Lobos scored the first eight points and didn't allow a Texan point until more than four minutes had surpassed. The Texans made 2-of-17 (.118) from the field, including a 0-of-8 mark from distance, in the quarter. They trailed by as many as 22, entering the fourth down 53-33.
In the final frame, the Texans chipped away to get back in it. A sudden burst made things interesting with a couple minutes to play, a 10-2 Texan run capped off by a Bigovic trey and
Tyler Jackson and-one within a span of five seconds. But there just wasn't enough time left and the Lobos closed it out.
Bigovic recorded Tarleton State's first double-double of the season with 12 points, 16 rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks. Her 16 rebounds are the most in a game by a Texan in over six years, last accomplished by Mackenzie Hailey vs. Western New Mexico on Feb. 4, 2017. It's the tied-10th most amount of rebounds in a game at the NCAA Division I level this season.
Da Silva and
Elise Turrubiates joined Bigovic in double figures scoring-wise with 11 and 10, respectively. Da Silva added four rebounds.
The Lobos, meanwhile, were led by the trio of Paula Reus, Nyah Wilson and Vianè Cumber. Reus had 16 points on 7-of-12 shooting, seven rebounds and two steals. Wilson tallied 16 points (8-9 FT) and nine rebounds. Cumber finished with 12 points and seven rebounds.
The Texans will wrap up their three-game road trip at Northwestern State on Thursday at 6 p.m. CT at Prather Coliseum in Natchitoches, Louisiana.
