Tarleton State Women’s Basketball opens 2026 with New Year’s Day match at Utah Valley

OREM, Utah – Tarleton State Women's Basketball begins the 2026 calendar year with a New Year's Day date at Utah Valley Thursday at 3 p.m. at the UCCU Center.

The Texans are seeking their first win in Orem, Utah, since joining the Western Athletic Conference. Tarleton State is coming off their first win in a conference opener since 2018, defeating UT Arlington at the EECU Center 66-57 on Monday. Tarleton State looks to start 2-0 for the first time in conference play since 2016.

Utah Valley is one of the top teams in the country at forcing turnovers, ranking third in the country at 28.3 in that category.

Fans can watch the game on ESPN+ and also listen to Clayton Neville's radio call on Tarleton Sports Network.

BALLIN BRACKENS

Shadaisa Brackens earned her and the team's first weekly award of the season, being named Western Athletic Conference Newcomer of the Week.
Brackens nearly averaged a double-double entering WAC play, averaging 14.5 points per game and nine rebounds per game in the ACU Christmas Classic.
She notched her sixth double-double of the season in the WAC opener against UTA (12/29) with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
She is the first Texan since 2021 to have a double-double in a conference opener (Marissa Escamilla - 16 points, 12 rebounds vs. CBU).
Brackens has reached six double-doubles faster than any Texan since 2016-17. She is the first Texan since Mackenzie Hailey to have at least six double-doubles through 12 games (7).
The former North Texas forward has been an immediate contributor in her first season with the Texans. Brackens has the most double-doubles on the team with five this season and currently leads Tarleton State in rebounding (91, 8.3 rebounds per game).
Prior to her arrival in Stephenville, Brackens played 51 career games for North Texas and scored 143 points to go with 82 rebounds.

QUEENS OF THE BLOCK

Tarleton State will have a pair of shot blockers in its frontcourt in Tessa Engelman and Elodie Lutbert.
Lutbert blocked five shots against Texas A&M-San Antonio. She was the first Tarleton State freshman since 2005 to have five blocks in a single game (TaNesiah Leak).
Lutbert had her second five-block game against UTA (12/29). She was the first Texan in the Division I era and first since 2009 to block five shots in a conference opener (5, JoAnne Jones vs. Texas A&M-Kingsville).
Lutbert is the first Texan since 2021-22 to have multiple five block games in a season (Seynabou Thiam, 4).
Lutbert is currently fourth on the program's single season blocks list in the Division I era. She needs just eight more to move to third.
Engelman has five games in college basketball with 3+ blocks, including two this season. Her most recent game with 3+ blocks was against McNeese (11/16, 3).
Engelman's five blocks on Feb. 6, 2025 at Iona were the most by a Mountaineer player in a single game since Nov. 2019.

LETTING LONG LOOSE

Tarleton State Women's Basketball senior guard Jakoriah Long is a scoring threat for the Texans, averaging over 13 points per game in conference play and over 10 points per game overall last year. She was named to the All-WAC Second Team in 2024-25 and Preseason All-WAC Team entering 2025-26.
After scoring 18 points against Montana (12/29) to finish non-conference play, Long scored 13 points in the WAC opener against UTA (12/29). She knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers to put the game out of reach in the fourth quarter.
Long is currently 14th all-time in career 3-pointers in program history. She needs three more to pass Meagan O'Dell (2011-16) for 13th on the list.
Long had her first Division I double-double earlier this year, pouring in 11 points and a career-high 10 rebounds in Tarleton State's double overtime win over Houston Christian (11/9).
The senior guard set a new Division I Era single game program record with seven made 3-pointers twice last season.
Long's 70% shooting from beyond the arc against CBU (3/6) was the second-highest 3-point percentage by a Texan in a single game in the Division I Era. She was just the second Texan in the Division I Era to hit 70% of her 3-pointers off a minimum of seven attempts.
Long is the first Texan in the Division I Era to post two consecutive 25-point games. She is the first Texan since the 2013-14 season to post back-to-back games with at least 25 points (Kiara Wright, Feb. 5-8, 2014).
She also became the first Texan in the Division I Era to have back-to-back games with six or more 3-pointers. She is the first Texan since the 2011-12 season to have two consecutive games with six or more 3-pointers (Peyton Adamson, Jan. 11-14, 2012).

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#11 Jakoriah Long: G; 5' 7"; Senior

#5 Tessa Engelman: F; 6' 3"; Junior

#27 Elodie Lutbert: C; 6' 6"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#11 Jakoriah Long
: 5' 7"; Senior
: G

#5 Tessa Engelman
: 6' 3"; Junior
: F

#27 Elodie Lutbert
: 6' 6"; Freshman
: C

Players Mentioned

#11 Jakoriah Long

#5 Tessa Engelman

#27 Elodie Lutbert

Players Mentioned

#11 Jakoriah Long

#5 Tessa Engelman

#27 Elodie Lutbert