TexAnns turn back A&M-Kingsville in OT

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Tarleton State and Lone Star Conference Preseason Player of the Year Mackenzie Hailey lost 68-62 at Texas A&M-Commerce Tuesday and visit Texas Woman's at 11:30 a.m. Thursday. || Flash photo library

Flash Staff Report
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(January 7, 2017) — Mackenzie Hailey forced overtime with a 3-pointer at the buzzer and Kylie Collins put Tarleton State (5-7, 4-2) ahead for good on a 3 with 1:16 remaining in the extra period as the TexAnns won, 62-59, at Texas A&M-Kingsville (7-5, 2-4) Saturday.

The takeaway and triple by Collins, a freshman guard off the bench, made it 61-59 with 1:16 remaining in overtime, and the Javelinas turned it over again with 59 seconds left in the Lone Star Conference nail biter.

Tarleton missed inside and A&M-Kingsville got the defensive rebound and a timeout with 26 seconds to go, but Meesha Wade’s jumper was blocked by Travanti Downes and Bailey Wipff grabbed the board with five ticks remaining.

Hailey was fouled and made one of two free throws to finish the scoring before a desperate Javelina shot by Tee Moore missed at the buzzer.

Tarleton broke out of a three-game slide and won its 14th straight over A&M-Kingsville, which hasn’t defeated the TexAnns since January 30, 2010.

But before Tarleton could enjoy continuing that long streak, the TexAnns simply had to stay alive.

Hailey’s 3-ball at the end of regulation was an emphatic answer to a 3 by Tee Moore that had given the Javelinas back the lead with eight seconds left.

The regulation-ending 3-point exchange came after back-to-back buckets in the paint by Ikpeaku Iwobi to tie the game at 49-49 after a five-point play had given the Javelinas a four-point advantage.

There were five lead changes in the fourth quarter after the TexAnns held the lead for the majority of the afternoon. The teams combined for 39 points in the fourth after just 15 total points between them in the third.

Hailey finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds for her second straight double-double. Iwobi had 10 points and seven boards and bBailey Wipff scored nine.

Kaylee Roher scored 17, Moore 14 and Wade 10 for the Javelinas, who dropped their second straight.

The TexAnns were able to flip the script after losing 81-74 in overtime at No. 5 Angelo State Thursday evening. It’s the first time Tarleton has had consecutive games go to overtime since beating Midwestern and losing to Cameron on February 5 and 8, 2014.

Tarleton returns home Tuesday to take on Texas A&M-Commerce. Tipoff at Wisdom Gym is set for 5:30 p.m. between two of three teams – the other is West Texas A&M – tied for third in the LSC, two games behind co-leaders Angelo State and Eastern New Mexico.


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