Tarleton State Women’s Basketball tips off season with exhibition against Howard Payne Wednesday

STEPHENVILLE, Texas — Tarleton State Women's Basketball will tip off the 2024 season on Wednesday at 6 p.m. with a home exhibition against Howard Payne in the Texans' final season playing at Wisdom Gym.

Fans are encouraged to get tickets in advance in-person at the Tarleton State Athletics Ticket Office at Memorial Stadium or online. No video stream or live stats will be available for Wednesday's game.

Ending the season by winning four out of its last six games in 2023-24, Tarleton State Women's Basketball momentum is boosting with the return of its top five leading scorers from a year ago.

Leading scorer from last season Jakoriah Long will be returning, as she enters her second season for the Texans. Long recorded 313 points in 31 games last season, averaging just over 11 points per game. Long also grabbed 85 rebounds and led the team in assists with 76.

Long will be joined by WAC All-Freshman team member from a year ago, Faith Acker. Acker was a key contributor to the Texans, being the second-leading scorer for the Texans with 242 points. She also racked 31 blocks, leading the team in that category.

Seniors Tyler Jacson and Elise Turrubiates will be back playing alongside Long and Acker for the Texans. Jackson, who is entering her fourth season with the Texans, will see the court once again as she racked 213 points, 108 rebounds, and 42 assists in the 2023-24 season. Turrubiates, who led the team in rebounds last season with 268 boards while scoring 258 points, will be starting her third season wearing Purple and White.

Also returning for the Texans will be seniors Andjela Bigović and Minnah Little to go with junior Karyn Sanford and sophomore Anya McKenzie. Sanford led Norway to the gold medal in the 2024 FIBA Women's European Championship for Small Countries over the summer, averaging 10.2 points per game and 4.6 rebounds per game.

Head coach Bill Brock will be starting his second year with the Texans, who guided the Texans to their first postseason conference tournament win in NCAA Division I Era. Brock, a three-time national championship coach from Baylor, helped Tarleton State defeat Abilene Christian 54-41 in the 2024 WAC Tournament.
Brock and the Texans are looking for more as Tarleton State is now NCAA championship eligible.

The Texans will begin regular season play on Monday, Nov. 4, traveling to UTEP for a 12 p.m. tipoff in El Paso.

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