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Tarleton State University Athletics

BuffaloRecap
Avery Golden
70
Winner Tarleton St. TSU 6-4,0-0 WAC
65
Buffalo UB 2-8,0-0 MAC
Winner
Tarleton St. TSU
6-4,0-0 WAC
70
Final
65
Buffalo UB
2-8,0-0 MAC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Tarleton St. TSU 18 17 25 10 70
Buffalo UB 16 13 18 18 65

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Grant Cohen

Tarleton State Women’s Basketball holds on to defeat WNIT champions Buffalo in ACU Christmas Classic

ABILENE, Texas – Tarleton State Women's Basketball made a statement with its fourth straight win, defeating defending WNIT champions, Buffalo, 70-65 at the ACU Christmas Classic on Friday night at Moody Coliseum. 

The Texans made their first Division I postseason appearance in the 2025 WNIT, earning a first-round bye before falling short in the second round. Buffalo ended up winning the title and finishing with a program record 30 wins last year. 

Senior guard Gia Adams led all scorers with 23 points and matched a career-high eight assists. Junior forward Shadasia Brackens recorded her fourth consecutive double-double, collecting 10 points and 10 rebounds in Friday night's win. Freshman center Elodie Lutbert scored 11 points and blocked three shots, her third game with at least three blocks. 

The Texans jumped out in front early by scoring the first two baskets and going on a quick 6-0 scoring run to move ahead by seven. Buffalo chipped away at the deficit, but back-to-back baskets from Tarleton State's senior guards helped keep the advantage at bay. Adams knocked down a 3-pointer while senior guard Jakoriah Long converted the fastbreak layup, following up with a 3-pointer to put the Texans ahead by nine. 

Buffalo, however, controlled the last three minutes of the opening period. The Bulls ended the first quarter with seven unanswered points to cut Tarleton State's lead 18-16 through the first 10 minutes. 

The Texans needed baskets and looked inside to get them. Lutbert got the Texans' first three buckets of the second quarter to ignite a 6-0 scoring run. Senior guard/forward Kyriana Jones helped the Texans stay out in front with a basket while drawing the foul, putting Tarleton State ahead by 10 points after the free throw. 

A pair of free throws from Adams allowed the Texans to remain ahead by double digits with two minutes left to play in the first half. After Buffalo answered with two straight baskets, junior forward Allie Myers capped off the fastbreak with a layup. The Bulls knocked down the final bucket of the first half to make it a 35-29 lead in favor of the Texans. 

Opening the second half on a 7-0 scoring run, the Texans continued with their aggressive offensive attack. Another scoring run was ignited when Adams knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers to put the Texans up by 12. Brackens converted a second chance jumper before Adams' third 3-pointer of the quarter made it three straight possessions with a score. 

Buffalo answered back with scores on two straight trips down the floor, but it was Tarleton State who got the last word to end the third quarter. Adams found Jones for a corner three just before the buzzer to put Tarleton State up 60-47 entering the final period. 

The Texans remained ahead by double digits with two and a half minutes to play thanks to a pair of 3-pointers from senior guard Luka Malinka. Buffalo continued to fight and cut the deficit in half with 1:39 left to play. The Bulls forced the Texans into turnovers in the closing seconds, but Tarleton State's defense prevented further damage from Buffalo that resulted in a five-point win. 

Tarleton State completes non-conference play in the ACU Christmas Classic at 1 p.m. on Saturday against Montana. 

Postgame Notes
  • Tarleton State won its fourth straight game on Friday night at the ACU Christmas Classic, defeating Buffalo 70-65 at Moody Coliseum. This was the first meeting between the two programs 
  • Both teams are coming off two of the longest non-holiday breaks in between games in Division I. Tarleton State played its first game in 12 days while Buffalo had its first contest in 13 days. 
  • Senior guard Gia Adams scored a season-high 23 points and matched a career-high eight assists. She last had eight assists on Feb. 1, 2024 against Southern Utah when she was with UT Arlington. 
  • Junior forward Shadasia Brackens recorded her fourth straight game with a double-double, scoring 10 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. She is the first Texan since 2016-17 to record four straight double-doubles (Mackenzie Hailey). 
  • Freshman center Elodie Lutbert (3) had her third game this season with three or more blocks to go with 11 points. Having five blocks in her last game, Lutbert is the first freshman since 2005 to have five blocks in a single game (TaNesiah Leak). 
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