Flash Staff Report
TheFlashToday.com
(December 16, 2017) — When Tarleton State needed a lift Saturday, its marquee sophomore forward answered the challenge.
Makenzie Hailey scored the final four points to lift Tarleton to a 67-63 win, its first on the road this season, over an Arkansas-Fort Smith club that had tied the game with six straight points just moments later.
McKinley Bostad was 8-12 from the floor to lead the TexAnns with 20 points, while Hailey’s strong finish gave her 17 and Katie Webster doubled up with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Point guard Kylie Collins added 10 points while distributing five assists.
A Hailey two and Bostad 3 broke near five minute scoring drought by Tarleton just moments earlier. Mariah Green hit three 3-pointers during that stretch and the Lions reeled off 17 straight to cut it to one. Hailey finally scored with 4:40 left, the first TexAnn points since 9:17 was on the clock. Bostad’s 3 pushed it back to six, but UAFS enough in the tank for one final run.
After Bostad finished her scoring with a layup for a 61-55 Tarleton lead with 2:30 remaining. She was fouled, but the ‘And-1’ free throw was Tarleton’s only miss from the line. Micayla Haynes scored a layup for UAFS, then Mariah Green stole the ball away from Collins.
Green was fouled by Webster and hit two foul shots to make it a 2-point game.
Collins missed a 3 later in the shot clock on the Tarleton end, but Bostad, a guard, grabbed her rebound to keep the possession alive. The TexAns didn’t take advantage with second chance points, but edid run off another 28 seconds before Collins missed a layup.
Collins stole the ball but then had it swiped right back by Lundon Williams, who took it in for the tying layup.
That’s when the Lone Star Conference Preseason Player of the Year decided enough was enough. Out of a itmeout, Hailey made a bucket in the paint off an assist from Collins, and the TexAnns took the lead for good with 31 seconds remaining.
Hansen tried to give UAFS back the lead with a 3, but she missed and Hailey cleaned it up, was fouled then put it away with the final two free throws for a two-possession lead.
Hailey and Bostad combined for 28 points in the second half afterr Collins and Webster each scored 10 in the first half that ended with Tarleton leading 33-23.
The TexAnns scored eight of the final 10 in the third quarter before the final points by Webster made it 54-36 in the opening minute of the fourth.
Both teams shot 42 percent from the floor and the total stats came out basically even across the board. Except from the free throw line, that is, as Tarleton was 10-11 and UAFS knocked down just 6-10.
The Lions were led by Tayla Taylor with 17 points on 7-12 shooting and eight rebounds. Mariah Green scored 15 and Lundon Williams added 12 while points guard Sarah Elkins scored six and dealt six assists.
Tarleton returns to Stephenville to host Arlington Baptist at 5:30 p.m. Monday.
Tarleton State 67
- TECHNICAL FOULS: none
- POINTS IN THE PAINT: 38
- POINTS OFF TURNOVERS: 16
- SECOND CHANCE POINTS: 16
- FAST BREAK POINTS: 4
- BENCH POINTS: 2
- SCORES TIED: 0 time(s)
- LEAD CHANGED: 2 time(s)
- LARGEST LEAD: 18 4th-09:17
Ark.-Fort Smith 63
- TECHNICAL FOULS: none
- POINTS IN THE PAINT: 28
- POINTS OFF TURNOVERS: 20
- SECOND CHANCE POINTS: 7
- FAST BREAK POINTS: 2
- BENCH POINTS: 13
- SCORES TIED: 3 time(s)
- LEAD CHANGED: 1 time(s)
- LARGEST LEAD: 4 1st-07:56
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