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Tarleton State University Athletics

BuntunSUURecap
Avery Golden
57
Southern Utah SUU 15-8,7-4 WAC
59
Winner Tarleton St. TSU 12-11,6-6 WAC
Southern Utah SUU
15-8,7-4 WAC
57
Final
59
Tarleton St. TSU
12-11,6-6 WAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Southern Utah SUU 22 10 8 17 57
Tarleton St. TSU 10 18 16 15 59

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Grant Cohen

Tarleton State Women’s Basketball completes biggest comeback in D1 era to knock off Southern Utah

STEPHENVILLE, Texas – Down by 18 points, Tarleton State Women's Basketball completed the largest comeback in the Division I era and defeated Southern Utah 59-57 on Saturday at the EECU Center. 

The Texans forced Southern Utah into 18.8% shooting in the third quarter and ended the period on a 14-1 scoring run to push out in front. Down by one in the final minute, freshman Elodie Lutbert knocked down the go-ahead jumper to put the Texans up by one with 55 seconds to play. 

Senior guard Jakoriah Long scored a season-high 24 points to lead the Texans' comeback efforts. Junior guard Caroline Lyles posted her first collegiate double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Junior guard Allie Myers grabbed a career-high 13 rebounds, including six offensive boards. 

"We needed to finish strong down the stretch and that's exactly what we did today. I'm just so proud of them," head coach Bill Brock said. "After the first quarter, we really fought hard. Our team played five games in 10 days, so fatigue was definitely a concern. Our effort and energy was there when we needed it today." 

In the last meeting between the two teams, the Texans were the ones to get off to a fast start. The Thunderbirds flipped the script in the first quarter. Southern Utah made six of its first 11 shots and went on an early 10-0 scoring run to go up by double digits. 

After a basket from the Texans, the Thunderbirds capped off the first quarter with a 3-pointer with six seconds left. Southern Utah shot 60% in the first quarter and held the Texans to under 30% shooting to go up 22-10.

The Thunderbirds' strong start to the first half continued, hitting a 3-pointer and converting a basket while being fouled to open the second quarter. Long led the Texans' comeback attempt, scoring eight points in the first five and a half minutes of the second quarter. The Waco, Texas, native knocked in a floating layup before junior forward Shadasia Brackens turned a steal into a layup to make it a 10-point game. 

Myers and Lyles lifted the Texans' comeback efforts, with Myers getting an offensive rebound and finding Lyles for the basket with a foul. Lyles later answered the bell by knocking down a 3-pointer to make it a five-point game. The Texans forced Southern Utah to shoot 17.6% in the second quarter to make it a 32-28 game going into the locker room. 

Southern Utah's fast offensive start in the second half allowed the Thunderbirds to go up by nine early in the third quarter. Tarleton State, once again, refused to quit and ended the third period in complete control. Baskets by Lutbert and Myers started a 14-1 scoring run that allowed the Texans to swing the advantage. 

Tarleton State's defense forced Southern Utah into a four-minute scoring drought and did not allow the Thunderbirds to get a basket in the final seven and a half minutes of the period. The Thunderbirds shot 18.8% in the third quarter, allowing Tarleton State to take a four-point lead going into the final period. 

Myers helped the Texans pick up right where they left off with the fourth quarter's first bucket, with another pair of baskets putting Tarleton State in front by nine. Southern Utah, however, made it a one-possession game with six straight points. A second chance jumper from Southern Utah allowed the Thunderbirds to make it a one-point game, with a pair of free throws putting the Thunderbirds in front. 

The Texans made sure they retook the lead and kept it on their next trip down with 1:13 left to play. Finding Lutbert inside, the freshman center converted the layup with 55 seconds to play. The Thunderbirds responded to a pair of free throws from the Texans by hitting a layup, but Lyles knocked down one from the charity strike to make it a two-point game. The Texans prevented Southern Utah from getting the tying basket with seven seconds left to make the comeback complete. 

Tarleton State returns to the EECU Center next Saturday, February 14 against in-state rival Abilene Christian at 2 p.m. Tickets can be purchased by visiting TarletonSports.com/Tickets or by visiting the EECU Center Box Office. 

Postgame Notes
  • Tarleton State Women's Basketball overcame an early 18-point deficit to defeat Southern Utah 59-57 on Saturday at the EECU Center. The win ends a two-game losing skid for the Texans. 
  • The Texans have now won seven straight games against Southern Utah. Their last loss to the Thunderbirds came on Feb. 25, 2023. 
  • The Texans' 18-point deficit is the biggest comeback in the Division I era. It is the second double-digit comeback the Texans have overcome this season (10 vs. UTA, Dec. 29). 
  • Senior guard Jakoriah Long scored a season-high 24 points to lead the Texans' comeback efforts. Saturday was Long's second 20-point game of the season. 
  • Junior guard Caroline Lyles recorded her first collegiate double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Lyles' 11 boards gave her a career-high in that category. 
  • Junior forward Allie Myers grabbed a career-high 13 rebounds. She recorded her first game with double-digit rebounds since the season opener on Nov. 3. 
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