STEPHENVILLE, Texas – Tarleton State Women's Basketball made its first-ever Division I double overtime game an instant classic, knocking off Houston Christian 75-71 at the EECU Center on Sunday. 

Houston Christian hit a game-tying 3-pointer with 1:05 left in regulation to force overtime while freshman Elodie Lutbert hit a game-tying jumper with five seconds left to send the game to double overtime. The Texans outscored the Huskies 16-12 in the second overtime to clinch the win. 

Senior Luka Malinka scored a season-high 21 points off the bench, hitting 10-of-11 free throws from the charity strike. Lutbert and senior guard/forward Kyriana Jones added 14 points each while senior guard Jakoriah Long poured in her first Division I double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

"I saw great fight in our team today, especially in the fourth quarter when we were down by five points," head coach Bill Brock said. "Houston Christian is a hard team to defend. They run an offensive system where they will penalize you with a back cut or flare screen if you are out of position on defense. I'm proud of our team's fight and effort today." 

After a free throw cut Tarleton State's early lead to one possession, the Texans scored on three straight trips to the basket to stretch the lead. The Texans shot 53.8% in the first quarter, taking a four-point lead after the first 10 minutes. 

Tarleton State continued to execute offensively in the second quarter, slowing down HCU's scoring in the process. The Texans went on an 11-0 scoring run to start the second quarter to take a 15-point lead. HCU responded with nine straight points, holding the Texans to just one basket in the final minutes of the first half to make it a 27-20 game. 

HCU carried its second quarter momentum into the third quarter, hitting five of its first eight shots in the second half. The Huskies hit a pair of 3-pointers to tie the game before jumpers from Lutbert and a 3-pointer from sophomore Mar'Cyah Willis put the Texans out in front again. HCU scored six unanswered points before a pair of free throws by Malinka ended the third quarter with the Texans ahead 42-40. 

Two straight baskets from HCU ignited a 7-0 scoring run by the Huskies. Junior forward Shadasia Brackens answered back with two key plays of her own, hitting a turnaround jumper before getting a fastbreak bucket off a steal. 

Despite trailing in the closing minutes, the Texans clawed their way back in front. A pair of second chance baskets from Jones allowed Tarleton State to regain the lead, with Jones continuing to give the Texans a fourth-quarter spark. The senior knocked in a layup to give the Texans a 56-53 lead with 1:26 left to play. 

HCU hit the game-tying 3-pointer with 1:05 left in regulation and forced the Texans to miss the game-winning attempt to force overtime. 

HCU started overtime by scoring the go-ahead basket to go with a free throw to take a three-point advantage. The Texans got the tying basket they needed, with Lutbert knocking in the jumper in the paint with five seconds left to force double overtime. 

Lutbert continued to create a powerful post presence, getting an offensive rebound for a basket while drawing the foul to give the Texans the lead in double overtime. The Texans continued to create momentum in double overtime, with junior forward Shadasia Brackens blocking an HCU shot that led to a 3-pointer from Malinka.  

Long's layup halfway through double overtime gave the Texans a five-point edge, forcing HCU into only one more basket to secure its second win of the season. 

Tarleton State will go on the road for the first time during the 2025-26 season on Thursday, traveling to Bryan-College Station, Texas to face Texas A&M at 11 a.m. on Thursday. 

Season tickets are on sale now and start at just $50. Combination season ticket packages for both Men's and Women's Basketball begin at $125 and are available for purchase by calling the Tarleton State Ticket Office at 254-968-1832. 

Postgame Notes

• Tarleton State defeated Houston Christian 75-71 in double overtime at the EECU Center on Sunday. It was the first double overtime game for the Texans in the Division I era
• The Texans last went into overtime on Jan. 22, 2022 against Seattle U. They are 2-1 in overtime games in the Division I era. 
• Tarleton State picked up its first double overtime victory since Feb. 16, 2011 (75-66 vs. West Texas A&M). It was the Texans' first double overtime game since Feb. 2, 2017 (vs. Eastern New Mexico). 
• Senior guard Luka Malinka posted a season-high 21 points, shooting 10-for-11 from the free throw line. She is the sixth Texan in the Division I era to make 10+ free throws in a game. 
• Freshman center Elodie Lutbert had a season-high 14 points off the bench. She hit the game-tying basket with five seconds left in the first overtime to send the game to a second overtime. 
• Senior guard Jakoriah Long posted her first double double in a Tarleton State uniform with 11 points and 10 rebounds. She posted a career-high for rebounds.