ABILENE, Texas – Abilene Christian narrowly escaped Tarleton State Women's Basketball's fourth quarter comeback, holding off the Texans 68-65 on Tuesday night at Moody Coliseum.
 
With ACU ending the third quarter on an 11-0 scoring run, the Texans answered by scoring nine unanswered points in the final period and made it a two-point game with less than 20 seconds to go. The Texans missed their final three shot attempts to tie the game.
 
Freshman center Elodie Lutbert recorded her fifth double-double of the season, matching a season-high 16 points to go with 13 rebounds. Senior guard Gia Adams passed the 1,500 career points mark en route to 11 points while junior guard Caroline Lyles added 11 points and nine rebounds. Freshman guard Alexis Rynders added a season-high 10 points in 23 minutes off the bench.
 
The Texans only had 10 players available on Tuesday due to injury and illness.
 
"I never thought that only having 10 players available was a factor in tonight's game. I thought the players available did an outstanding job," head coach Bill Brock said. "The players that came off the bench gave us valuable minutes. We had control of the game, but we didn't have great composure in the closing minutes. I'm hoping we continue to gain more confidence when games are close in the last two minutes as we continue the second half of conference play."
 
Layups from Lutbert and Lyles following Adams' game opening 3-pointer allowed the Texans to go out in front early. ACU answered with an 8-0 scoring run that put the Wildcats ahead 13-7 halfway through the first quarter. The Wildcats forced the the Texans to go to their bench early when starting guard/forward Kyriana Jones was called for her second foul.
 
Despite the senior having to sit, the Texans got a lift from a freshman. Rynders scored two baskets to make it a one-possession game before ACU answered with two buckets of its own. A buzzer beater from Adams cut the deficit 21-17 after the first 10 minutes.
 
Rynders once again lifted the Texans off the bench by knocking down Tarleton State's first jumper of the second quarter. The freshman's basket ignited a 12-0 scoring run, with a 3-pointer from Adams giving her 1,500 career points. She is the only active player in the WAC to accomplish that feat and one of 60 players in Division I women's basketball to make that mark.
 
After sophomore Mar'Cyah Willis knocked down a 3-pointer to force an ACU timeout, the Wildcats came out of the break trimming the deficit. The Wildcats scored five of the final six baskets of the first half to tie the game going into halftime.
 
ACU threw offensive punches to start the second half, but the Texans threw them right back. Lyles knocked down a jumper after ACU hit a basket while drawing the foul, with the Wildcats answering with a 3-pointer on their next possession. The Argyle, Texas, native responded immediately with a 3-pointer of her own to give the Texans a one-point lead.
 
A free throw from Lutbert and a jumper from Adams put Tarleton State ahead 49-46 with three minutes to play in the period, but ACU hit two consecutive 3-pointers to swing the advantage and momentum. The Wildcats ended the third quarter on an 11-0 scoring run to take an eight-point lead entering the final period.
 
The Texans tamed the Wildcats to start the final period of play, going on a scoring run of their own. Baskets from Lutbert, Rynders and a 3-pointer from senior guard Jakoriah Long capped off nine unanswered points and put the Texans out in front 58-57 with 7:29 left to play. 
 
ACU, however, responded with seven unanswered points to swing the advantage. The Wildcats scored a basket while drawing the foul to go up 67-60 with two and a half minutes to play. Tarleton State's grit and fight continued, stringing together back-to-back baskets to make it a one-possession game. 
 
The Texans forced a defensive stop and made a free throw before Lyles stole the ball after the second missed free throw. The Texans missed a pair of game-tying layups and were forced to foul, with ACU only making one of two free throws with 6.8 seconds left. Tarleton State missed the game-tying 3-pointer that would've forced overtime. 
 
Tarleton State returns to the EECU Center for a three-game homestand starting Thursday, taking on league-leading California Baptist at 7 p.m. Thursday will be the Texans' annual Play4Kay game, recognizing the fight against all cancers affecting women. Tickets can be purchased by visiting TarletonSports.com/Tickets or by visiting the EECU Center Box Office. Donations can be made to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund at kayyow.com/play4kay. 
 
Postgame Notes

• ACU defeated Tarleton State 68-65 on Tuesday night at Moody Coliseum. The Texans are 0-2 against the Wildcats this season.
• Senior guard Gia Adams obtained her 1,500^th career point with 5:53 left in the first half. Adams had 11 points in Tuesday's game and is the only active player in the WAC to have 1,500 career points.
• Freshman center Elodie Lutbert scored a season-high 16 points to go with 13 rebounds. She had her fifth double-double of the season on Tuesday.
• Freshman guard Alexis Rynders scored a season-high 10 points in 23 minutes of action off the bench. The Glen Rose native had seven points combined for the season entering Tuesday's game.
• Junior guard Caroline Lyles had her second straight game with nine rebounds while adding 11 points. She recorded her third straight start on Tuesday.