NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The Texans held strong against a tough Ladyjacks squad in Nacogdoches, but ran out of gas in the second half to fall on the road 73-62.
Tarleton State (6-14, 3-8 WAC) led by seven after the first quarter and one at halftime, but Stephen F. Austin (15-7, 9-2 WAC) outscored the Texans 37-25 in the second half to win by 11. SFA swept the season series, both in similar fashion, with a neck-and-neck game through the first three quarters and using a fourth quarter push to win. This was SFA's eighth straight win at William R. Johnson Coliseum, now 9-2 at home, while the Texans dropped to 4-8 on the road.
Like the first meeting,
Faith Acker paced the Texans with 15 points on 5-of-8 shooting, adding five rebounds, but was plagued by six turnovers.
Elise Turrubiates led the bench with 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting, seven rebounds and four assists.
SFA pulled away by outshooting Tarleton State 28-of-57 (.491) to 23-of-63 (.365). Both teams combined for just five three-pointers and each shot an identical 14-of-19 (.737) from the free throw line.
After an 11-11 start halfway through the opening quarter, the Texans used a 6-0 spurt to lead by seven, the same lead they held after one, 21-14. Tarleton was hot in the first quarter, shooting 8-of-14 (.571) in the opening frame to SFA's 6-of-19 (.316) clip.
The Ladyjacks returned the favor in the second quarter, making 8-of-12 (.667) to Tarleton's 4-of-12 (.333). The Ladyjacks used an 8-1 run over the first 90 seconds to get within one, then took a 27-25 lead at the 5:54 mark, their first lead since it was 11-9. Neither team led by more than three the rest of the half, with the Texans into the locker room with a 37-36 lead.
SFA opened with the first five points in the third quarter, not allowing the Texans on the board until over four minutes in. Tarleton responded and tied it back at 43-43 just over halfway through the third. Again it was a close rest of the frame, this time the Ladyjacks leading 49-45 entering the fourth.
The 'Jacks led 51-49, then went on a 7-0 run, which bled into a 12-2 run to take a 12-point lead with over four minutes left. SFA maintained the lead the rest of the way and won by 11.
The Ladyjacks were led by Kurstyn Harden's 22 points on 9-of-14 shooting, adding eight rebounds and two blocks. Destini Lombard tallied 16 points on 7-of-10 shooting, seven assists, six rebounds and two steals. Kyla Deck put up eight points (3-6 FG) and seven rebounds off the bench.
The Texans will next begin a three-game homestand against Utah Valley on Thursday at 7 p.m. on National Women in Sports Day.
