STEPHENVILLE, Texas – The Tarleton Texans gave the Stephen F. Austin Ladyjacks a run for their money on Monday, but they couldn't overcome a heavy free throw disparity Monday at Wisdom Gym, losing 68-54.
 
The Texans (7-15, 1-10 WAC) led at halftime and were close throughout with the Ladyjacks (19-4, 9-2 WAC), who was ranked No. 1 in the latest WAC WBB Resume Seeding System, second in the WAC standings.
 
Tarleton went into Monday's contest with a three-game stretch of averaging just 13.0 fouls per game, but the Texans were whistled for 23 fouls. SFA had 31 free throw attempts to Tarleton's 10. The Texans' saving grace for a while was the fact that the Ladyjacks struggled to take advantage, shooting just 41.9 percent from the stripe. Tarleton made 7-of-10.
 
This was the second ever game between Tarleton and SFA, a makeup game from Thursday, which was postponed due to weather complications.
 
The Texans showed they were ready to play right away, opening the game with a Tyler Jackson three-ball on the first possession. SFA curbed the early momentum with six straight, but Tarleton responded, and both teams went back-and-forth throughout the opening frame. The Ladyjacks led 19-15 after one, making 7-of-11 (.636) from the field.
 
Another tight quarter followed in the second, with Tarleton taking the advantage with a late 8-2 run to end the half for a 33-31 lead. It marked the third straight game the Texans led at the break, who entered the span 6-1 in such games.
 
In the third, SFA opened with renewed intensity to take the lead back. Tarleton weathered their first few punches, but a late 11-2 run by the Ladyjacks gave them their first double-digit lead of the game with 40 seconds left. Teresa Da Silva nailed a three with 11 ticks remaining to make it a seven-point game after three, 52-45.
 
Da Silva's shot was part of a 7-0 run to get Tarleton back within three with eight minutes to play. SFA answered with an 8-0 run to go up 11, which grew to 14-2 to go up 15. The Ladyjacks allowed just five Tarleton points over the final eight minutes to win their seventh game in their last eight. Tarleton has matched their season-long skid of six games and has dropped 12 of their last 13.
 
Da Silva poured in 13 points (3-7 3PT), adding six rebounds and two assists. Ivanova had her best scoring game since Dec. 19, going for 13 points and three rebounds. Jackson finished with 11 points, while Mayra Caicedo added six points and six assists.
 
SFA outshot Tarleton 25-of-46 (.543) to 20-of-58 (.345) and outscored them in the paint 40-20. The Texans made 7-of-11 (.636) from distance over the first three quarters but missed all eight tries in the final frame.
 
The Ladyjacks' Aiyana Johnson recorded 28 points on 10-of-12 shooting (8-15 FT), 11 rebounds, three assists and four blocks in 40 minutes. Avery Vansickle led the bench with 11 points (4-8 FG, 3-7 3PT), and Jordan Harrison dished out a game-high eight assists, adding five points and six rebounds.
 
Tarleton will have a single road game before a Saturday home contest back in Wisdom. The Texans will next play at Seattle U on Thursday at 1 p.m. CT, 11 a.m. local time, in an important contest regarding WAC Tournament play. Tarleton won at the Redhawks last year 57-56 in overtime.