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Tarleton State University Athletics

SulRossStateSpasovskiRecap
Avery Golden
44
Sul Ross St. SRSU 0-1,0-0 Lone Star
64
Winner Tarleton St. TSU 2-1,0-0 UAC
Sul Ross St. SRSU
0-1,0-0 Lone Star
44
Final
64
Tarleton St. TSU
2-1,0-0 UAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Sul Ross St. SRSU 10 18 7 9 44
Tarleton St. TSU 8 15 24 17 64

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Grant Cohen

Strong second half gives Tarleton State Women’s Basketball second win of season, victory over Sul Ross State

STEPHENVILLE, Texas – Going on a 41-16 run in the second half, Tarleton State Women's Basketball picked up its second win of the season after defeating Sul Ross State 64-44 on Wednesday night at the EECU Center. 

With Tarleton State trailing by five at halftime, the Texans turned it on in the second half. The Texans shot 53.1% in the second half and held Sul Ross State to just 22.2% shooting in the final 20 minutes. 

Senior guard Lucia Navarro posted career-best numbers, leading the Texans with 14 points and nine rebounds off 60% shooting. Freshman guard Marie Diame added a lift for Tarleton State off the bench, scoring nine points to go with five steals. Diame is the first freshman since 2024 to post five steals in one game. 

"No win is ever a bad win, but this is a learning lesson for our team," head coach Bill Brock said. "You just can't take anyone for granted. There was no connectivity with our team in the first half. But we had a really good second half and I'm proud of our effort in the last 20 minutes." 

The Texans struck first by scoring the first two baskets, but Sul Ross State knocked down a pair of 3-pointers to take an early lead in the opening period. Another pair of baskets by Sul Ross State while holding Tarleton State to a 1-for-8 shooting stretch to go up early. The Lobos took a 10-8 lead at the end of the first quarter. 

A basket from freshman forward Alayna Yates tied the game at 10 before Sul Ross State answered with a basket to retake the lead. Back-to-back jumpers and a free throw allowed the Texans to take a 15-12 lead with just over five minutes left to play in the first half. Sul Ross State, however, obtained a basket while drawing the foul to make it a one-point game. 

The Lobos retook the lead thanks to a pair of free throws, later knocking down a 3-pointer to go up by four. After Sul Ross State got another basket, a bucket and a pair of free throws by freshman guard Kendall Ford and jumper from senior guard Jovana Spasovski tied the game at 23. Sul Ross State ended the half on a 5-0 scoring run to go into the locker room with a 28-23 lead. 

Tarleton State came out of the locker room firing, going on a quick 6-0 scoring run to retake the lead. Sul Ross State, however, answered right back with a bank shot in the paint to take a one-point lead. Tarleton State answered the bell with back-to-back 3-pointers and a jumper to spark a 7-0 scoring run. 

The Texans also got a boost from a guard to guard combo in Stephany Gonçalves and Navarro. Goncalves came up with three no-look passes to Navarro that resulted in three buckets that stretched Tarleton State's lead to double digits. Tarleton State shot 55.6% in the third quarter while holding Sul Ross State to just 15.4% shooting in the period to go up by 12. 

A 13-0 scoring run in the fourth quarter gave the Texans a comfortable cushion as time winded down. The Texans made seven of their final 14 shots to come out with a 20-point victory. 

Tarleton State faces its second nationally-ranked opponent of the season on Saturday, traveling to Austin to face No. 6 nationally-ranked Texas at 12 p.m. 

Postgame Notes 
  • Tarleton State defeated Sul Ross State 64-44 on Wednesday night at the EECU Center for its second win of the season. The Texans shot 53.1% in the second half and held Sul Ross State to just 22.2% shooting in the final 20 minutes. 
  • Holding Sul Ross State to just 44 points, the Texans have now held back-to-back home opponents to under 50 points. It is the first time since the EECU Center opened the Texans held two consecutive home opponents to under 50 points. It is the first time since the 2022-23 season the Texans had back-to-back home games holding the opposition to under 50 points. 
  • Senior guard Lucia Navarro posted career-highs in points (14) and rebounds (9). She made 60% of her shots, shooting 6-for-10 on Wednesday. 
  • The Texans had a season-best 26 bench points on Wednesday. Five different players scored off the bench. 
  • Freshman guard Marie Diame scored a career-high nine points and five steals on Wednesday. She is the first freshman since Dec. 7, 2024 to have five steals in one game.
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