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Tarleton State University Athletics

UtahTechWBB_Round1Recap
Avery Golden
60
Utah Tech UTTECH 6-10,1-5 WAC
64
Winner Tarleton St. TSU 9-8,3-3 WAC
Utah Tech UTTECH
6-10,1-5 WAC
60
Final
64
Tarleton St. TSU
9-8,3-3 WAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Utah Tech UTTECH 13 18 18 11 60
Tarleton St. TSU 16 17 13 18 64

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Grant Cohen

Tarleton State Women’s Basketball overcomes fourth quarter deficit, knocks off Utah Tech for second straight win

STEPHENVILLE, Texas – Shooting 63.6% in the fourth quarter, Tarleton State Women's Basketball overcame a late deficit and completed the comeback to defeat Utah Tech 64-60 on Saturday at the EECU Center for the Texans' second straight win. 

The Texans made five of their final six shots, taking the lead for good with just over two minutes to play in the game. With Tarleton State's starters accounting for 73.8% of the scoring entering Saturday's contest, big bench contributions pushed the Texans past the Trailblazers. The Texans had 27 points from players off the bench, their most in WAC play this season. 

Juniors Tessa Engelman and Caroline Lyles ignited the fourth quarter comeback coming off the bench, scoring a combined seven points in the last two minutes to lift the Texans. Lyles, who hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 2:07 left in the game, finished with a season-high 10 points. Engelman, who knocked down back-to-back baskets to put the game away, tallied a season-high 12 points to go with seven rebounds. 

Senior guard Jakoriah Long led all scorers with 17 points, hitting three 3-pointers to tie Brianna Bledsoe (2010-14) for ninth on the program's all-time career 3-pointers list. Junior forward Shadasia Brackens posted her seventh double-double of the season with 11 points and 13 rebounds. 

"Give a lot of credit to Utah Tech. They play hard and run a style where it forces true post players to defend on the perimeter," head coach Bill Brock said. "I thought Tessa had a great game. I thought Tessa and Caroline hit some big shots. I'm very glad Caroline got to play like that in front of her dad. Jakoriah took over at times like a senior should and played like someone that has been with me for three years. I thought we really stepped up as a team in the fourth quarter and had some big stops to get this win." 

Tarleton State picked up right where they left off from Thursday, scoring 11 of the first 13 points to take a nine-point lead. After holding Utah Tech to just one of seven shots, the Trailblazers' got going. Utah Tech responded with three consecutive 3-pointers to tie the game at 11 with two and a half minutes to play. 

A jumper by junior guard Caroline Lyles and a free throw from Adams allowed the Texans to go back out in front, with a blocked shot by sophomore guard Mar'Cyah "MiMi" Willis giving Tarleton State another opportunity to extend the lead. The Texans did just that, with Engelman getting the final bucket of the quarter to give the Texans a 16-13 advantage. 

Utah Tech forced the Texans into a three-minute scoring drought to start the second quarter, taking advantage with the first two baskets of the period. Lyles helped the Texans get back on track by knocking down a 3-pointer with 6:46 left in the first half. The Trailblazers, however, quickly tied it with a layup nine seconds later. 

Long and Brackens combined for 12 of the Texans' final 14 points of the half that allowed Tarleton State to retake the lead. Brackens made a turnaround jumper on the Texans' final offensive possession, but Utah Tech got a layup seconds before the final buzzer to make it a 33-31 game going into the locker room. 

The Trailblazers came out of the locker room eager to get out in front, starting the second half with three consecutive 3-pointers for a six-point lead. The Texans answered with a pair of layups before Utah Tech responded with a quick 5-0 scoring run to go back up by seven. 

Utah Tech used the 3-point line to its advantage to start, but the Texans answered with triples of their own to end the period. Long and Willis knocked down two consecutive 3-pointers with less than a minute to go in the period, cutting the deficit 49-46 entering the final frame. 

A jumper from Lyles allowed the Texans to tie the game, with a 3-pointer from Long giving Tarleton State a one-point edge with four and a half minutes to go. Utah Tech quickly answered by knocking down a triple on the next trip to take back the two-point lead. 

All season long, it had been the Texans' starters carrying scoring load. Now, it was time for Tarleton State's bench to shine. 

Needing a score to end the scoring drought and take the lead, Lyles and Engelman delivered. Lyles hit the go-ahead 3-pointer to give the Texans a 60-59 advantage with just over two minutes to play. After Lyles shined in the spotlight, it was Engelman's turn. 

The junior from Calgary, Alberta, Canada, hit a jumper with less than a minute to play to extend the lead by three points. Engelman's clutch shooting continued 45 seconds later, making another basket with eight seconds left. The Texans scored on each of their final three trips down the floor and prevented Utah Tech from making a shot in the last four and a half minutes to win their second straight contest. 

Tarleton State wraps up its homestand at the EECU Center on Wednesday with its second matchup with UT Arlington at 7 p.m. Tickets start at just $9 and can be purchased at TarletonSports.com/Tickets. Students receive free admission to all Tarleton State home events. 

Postgame Notes
  • Tarleton State Women's Basketball won its second straight game on Saturday at the EECU Center 64-60. The Texans have won four straight games against the Trailblazers. 
  • The Texans shot 63.6% in the fourth quarter while holding Utah Tech to just 28.7% in the final period. It is the second straight game the Texans have shot 60% or better in the fourth quarter this season. It is the third fourth quarter they have accomplished that feat in 2025-26. 
  • Tarleton State had 27 bench points in Saturday's game, their most in WAC play this season. The Texans are 4-2 this season when they have 20 or more bench points. 
  • Junior guard Caroline Lyles had a season-high 10 points off the bench. Lyles scored the go-ahead 3-pointer with 2:07 left to play. 
  • Junior forward Tessa Engelman scored a season-high 12 points off the bench. She knocked down the final two jumpers for the Texans to put the game out of reach. 
  • Senior guard Jakoriah Long scored a game-high 17 points and knocked down three 3-pointers. She is now tied with Brianna Bledsoe (2010-14) for ninth on the program's all-time career 3-pointers list. 
  • Freshman center Elodie Lutbert blocked her 32nd shot of the season on Saturday. She now has the second-most blocks in a season in the Division I era. 
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