Two big runs send TexAnns cruising past Western New Mexico

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Tarleton sophomore center Mackenzie Hailey recorded her 10th double-double Saturday, collecting 15 points and 11 rebounds in a 69-57 win at Midwestern State. || Photo courtesy Dr. CHET MARTIN

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(December 8, 2016) — Mackenzie Hailey doubled up by the end of the third quarter Thursday, when Tarleton State (4-4, 3-0) used two big runs to cruise to a 62-42 win over Western New Mexico (4-5, 0-3) at Drag’s Court.

Tarleton remains unbeaten in Lone Star Conference play and concludes its first and longest LSC road trip in Portales Saturday when the TexAnns tip off at 6 p.m. (CST) at Eastern New Mexico.

Tarleton left WNMU behind with strong second-half run of 15 straight points – the last 12 of the third and the first three of the fourth – to open up a 53-33 lead.

Hailey sat out much of the fourth and finished with 10 points and 12 boards, her third straight double-double and the fourth in eight games for the sophomore forward who from Burleson who transferred from Division I UT-Arlington.

Wipff hit two 3-pointers during the run, including one on the opening possession of the fourth quarter. The senior guard scored 13.

Senior forward Ikpeaku Iwobi scored 14 and collected seven boards for Tarleton, while true freshman Trejour Wilson enjoyed the best performance of her young college career with eight.

WNMU scored only six points in the  third quarter and had just four over the opening five-plus minutes of the fourth. The Mustangs shot just 26.8 percent at home, and Tarleton out-rebounded them 45-27.

Jade Botelho netted 18 to lead WNMU. Jordan Gutierrez added 14, but had just four after halftime.

Tarleton scored nine straight points, four of them by Hailey in the paint, to take control in the second quarter. The game was deadlocked at 15-15 before the run, and Tarleton led by at least seven the entire way after it.

Hailey finished the half with 10 points and seven rebounds, while Wipff added seven. Gutierrez netted 11 for WNMU before intermission, when Tarleton was ahead, 34-25.

The TexAnns were an impressive 12-18 shooting from inside the arc in the first half, but a paltry 1-14 from behind it. They shot 40.6 percent before the break, while WNMU connected on just 32.7 percent.

The first quarter was a defensive struggle. Tarleton went 0-8 from the arc in the opening 10 minutes, but took the lead, 10-9, on a pair of Tiara Tatum free throws. The teams exchanged buckets afterwards and Tarleton led 12-11 entering the second.


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