TexAnns come from behind for 12th straight win over TAMUK

Bailey Wipff FEATURE — Second-team all-conference guard Bailey Wipff and Tarleton State have a direct rematch with Texas A&M-Commerce at 6 p.m. Thursday at Allen Event Center. || Courtesy CHET MARTIN

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(January 9, 2016) — After struggling for much of the night on the offensive end, Tarleton State turned to the 3-point shooting of Bailey Wipff and Meagan O’Dell to finally take control in a 68-55 Lone Star Conference win at Texas A&M-Kingsville Saturday.

Tarleton won its 12th straight against the Javelinas, whose current losing streak grew to six thanks to a big comeback by the TexAnns, who trailed 22-8 in the second quarter at the Steinke Center.

But by the fourth quarter, it was all Tarleton. Wipff buried her fifth 3-pointer to give the TexAnns a 49-47 edge and the least lead change they would need with 6:29 remaining. Wipff led all scorers with 20 just three nights after scoring a career high 22 at home.

The junior guard’s go-ahead long ball kickstarted a 14-2 run that saw the Tarleton lead grow to 60-49 by the two-minute mark. Meagan O’Dell knocked down a 3-pointer to make it 54-47 and had five points during the run that ended with a Morgan Ashmore free throw at the 2:04 mark.

O’Dell netted 10 points off the bench while McGrath collected seven points and four steals, Averie Mack scored seven, Ikpeaku Iwobi tallied six points and six boards and Ashmore finished with six points and five assists.

Tarleton climbed back into the game when Wipff found her stroke in the second quarter. Behind 22-8 early in the second, the TexAnns used a 17-6 run to enter the locker room trailing 28-25. Wipff hit two 3-pointers and scored eight while McGrath also hit a triple during that run. They actually combined for 11 of 13 straight by Tarleton to trail 22-21 before the Javelinas responded.

A&M-Kingsville scored the opening six points of the second quarter to grab the 14-point lead before Wipff led the TexAnns into making up 12 points of it over two minutes.

Tarleton did not hit a field goal over the final 7:42 of the first quarter and more than two minutes into the second, aiding the Javelinas in building the early lead. It was a surprising start after Tarleton exploded for 94 points in a rout of Angelo State in Stephenville Wednesday.

The TexAnns will be on the road again Wednesday, visiting Midwestern State. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m. at D.L. Ligon Coliseum in Wichita Falls.

A&M-Kingsville was led by Kaylee Rohler with 17 points and Jamesha Wade with 11. The Javelinas host Eastern New Mexico Wednesday.