TexAnns fall to league-leading ENMU in double overtime

First 2OT game for Tarleton women since 2011

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By BRAD KEITH
TheFlashToday.com

STEPHENVILLE (February 2, 2017) — Bailey Wipff hit a corner 3 to save Tarleton at the end of regulation, and her fellow senior Ikpeaku Iwobi banked one in to force a second overtime.

But in the end, Eastern New Mexico survived. Just as they have done throughout much of the season to earn the outright lead in the Lone Star Conference women’s basketball race.

Kassandra Harris scored five straight points for a Greyhound lead before fouling out late in the double overtime. Tarleton never recovered and ENMU held on, 81-76, for its first win at Wisdom Gym in 17 years.

It makes sense the Greyhounds would get their first road win over Tarleton since 2000. Achieving “firsts” has become their habit while shocking everyone throughout the LSC season, with the win Thursday leaving them half a game ahead of Angelo State at the top of the standings.

Tarleton, which also saw a fourth quarter lead slip away in a 73-68 loss to ENMU in Portales in December, slips into sole possession of fifth in the LSC. The TexAnns are home against Western New Mexico at 4 p.m. Saturday.

There were 15 ties and 21 lead changes in the first TexAnn game to reach double overtime since a 74-70 loss to Central Oklahoma on March 4, 2011. It was the 10th overtime contest in three seasons for head coach Misty Wilson.


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ENMU had a chance to put the game away late in regulation, but Jasmine Hotchkins missed two free throws to leave the TexAnns within a possession, and Wipff made them pay. The senior guard ran the baseline, took a pass from sophomore star Mackenzie Hailey and buried a left-corner 3 over the outstretched hands of two defenders to tie it at 61-61.

It was Iwobi’s turn in the next overtime, with Tiara Tatum dishing an assist to the senior forward on the right block. Iwobi made a subtle spin move to her left and kissed the ball off the glass and through the net to even it up at 66-66.

ENMU missed at the buzzer following both Tarleton game savers, first from 75 feet away in regulation and from 15 feet out in overtime.

But double overtime went the way of the Greyhounds. Iwobi scored a similar bucket in the paint for a brief 68-66 lead before ENMU took over. Or rather, Harris took over. She tied the game at 70-70 on a layup with 2:27 left, and converted an old-fashioned 3-point play for the last lead change of the night, making it 73-70 with 1:47 remaining.

Tarleton closed it to on an Iwobi free throw after Harris fouled out with 1:28 left, but Eliza Martinez tipped in an offensive rebound and buried two free throws for a 77-71 Greyhound lead with 49 seconds to go.

Tarleton pulled within one possession on a Wipff 3-pointer with 17 seconds on the clock, but Sarina Johnson hit two free throws to put it away eight seconds later.

Johnson scored 22 points to lead everyone for Eastern New Mexico, while Iwobi and Wipff each netted 20 and Hailey added 19 for Tarleton. Iwobi also had 13 boards for a double-double.

ENMU picked up a 12-point, 10-board double-double from freshman Shelby Jones and 11 each from Harris and Hotchkins.

ENMU shot 47 percent and Tarleton 35 percent. Both struggled from the foul stripe, ENMU going 21-40 and Tarleton just 21-34. The Greyhounds won the rebound battle 52-41, overcoming 23 turnovers to Tarleton’s 15.

Hotchkins hit three third quarter 3-pointers to give Eastern New Mexico a 41-36 lead before Talreton finished the third on a 13-4 run for a 49-45 advantage entering the fourth. Iwobi gave the TexAnns a six-point margin early in the final period before ENMU came back.

Tarleton led 30-28 after scoring the last five points of the first half, beginning with a game-tying 3-pointer by Hailey, who was able to contribute in the second quarter without getting a third foul. She was whistled for her second chasing an offensive rebound 90 feet from the ENMU basket with six seconds left in the first quarter.

Tarleton scored the first eight points of the game, but it didn’t take long for Eastern New Mexico to respond and grab a 14-13 lead. Hailey scored the first four and Wipff hit a 3 for a 7-0 TexAnn advantage. No ENMU player hit more than one field goal in the 14-5 run over the back half of the opening period, but six different Greyhounds scored in that stretch.

Hailey had 10 points but no rebounds at halftime, when Jones already had 10 points and nine boards for for ENMU. The Greyhounds visit Texas A&M-Commerce at 2 p.m. Saturday.


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Photos courtesy NATE BURAL/Tarleton Athletic Communications

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