STEPHENVILLE, Texas – Tarleton State's Hoops for Hunger game the night before Thanksgiving provided the theatrics, but it was the road team that left Wisdom Gym with the win.
Eastern Washington (4-1) squeaked out a 64-62 victory over Tarleton State (1-3) on Wednesday night in Stephenville, Texas, in a back-and-forth game full of runs.
"I'm really proud of our team's effort and fight this evening," head coach Bill Brock said. "We are playing with lots of different combinations due to injuries, but every one of our players are giving outstanding effort. Hopefully we are developing some depth for the future."
The Texans kept this game tight throughout against the Big Sky Conference preseason favorites, especially down the stretch. Down 60-53 with 2:22 left,
Jakoriah Long had two and-one opportunities over the next minute to get Tarleton down by just a point, 60-59.
The Eagles responded with a layup, and had a big defensive stop after the Texans got the offensive rebound on split free throws. EWU made a layup after that to go up by two possessions, 64-60.
Elise Turrubiates nailed a jumper with 17 seconds remaining to keep Tarleton in it, then the Eagles missed both free throws with 13 ticks left to give the Texans a chance. Long, who had only missed two shots the entire night before the last possession, had a great look from distance for the game-winning shot at the buzzer, but it hit back iron.
Long had a career-high 16 points to lead the Texans on 6-of-9 shooting, adding four rebounds and two blocks.
Miannah Little earned her first start and poured in a career-high 10 points.
Lexi Bull also made her first start and flirted with a double-double, tallying eight points (3-6 FG), nine rebounds and three assists.
Karyn Sanford led the bench with eight points (3-5 FG, 2-2 3PT), while Turrubiates (seven points, six rebounds) and
Teresa Maggio (seven points, 3-3 FG) were just behind her.
Tarleton opened the night with a food drive ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, offering free entry to any fan who brought five canned items to the game. All proceeds on the night are going toward Saint Luke's Food Pantry.
The Purple and White then took the court for the first time in 10 days, and held an early lead a couple of times, last ahead 9-7 with 4:06 to play in the first. The Eagles ended the quarter on a 7-0 run to lead 14-9 after one.
EWU's lead grew as large as 10 midway through the second quarter before Tarleton got back in the game. The Texans went on their own 7-0 run after being down 24-14, featuring four points by Little, a bucket by Vitoria Carvalho, and a free throw by Bull. Tarleton ended the half in style, with
Andjela Bigovic nailing a jumper and Long sending a shot out of bounds at the other end to put the Texans down by just a pair at the break, 29-27.
Eastern Washington scored six quick points to start the third quarter, but this time Tarleton immediately responded after a time out with their own six points to get back within two. Down 42-36 with 4:05 left, Tarleton scored six straight to tie the game for the first time since the first quarter. EWU then closed the frame on a 6-0 spurt to lead 48-42 entering the fourth.
In the final frame, Tarleton opened with a 7-1 run to tie the game again. EWU took momentum from there and went up by seven late, 58-51 with 3:53 left. Then Long and the Texans went to work and barely dropped the home contest at the end.
The Texans outshot the Eagles 22-of-54 (.407) to 25-of-63 (.397), outrebounded them 42-33, and led the bench scoring 41-18. EWU only turned it over eight times to Tarleton's 14 giveaways, which proved to be the difference.
Alexis Pettis led EWU with 16 points on 5-of-6 shooting, including 4-of-5 from distance. Jamie Loera tallied 15 points and three assists. Milly Knowles recorded a double-double with 10 points on 5-of-8 shooting, 12 rebounds and two steals.
The Texans will have another long stretch before playing, this time having a week off before returning for their first conference game. They'll host Stephen F. Austin on Wednesday, Nov. 29, at 7 p.m. at Wisdom Gym.
