Texans topped in LSC quarterfinals, await NCAA fate

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FRISCO – The Tarleton women’s basketball team fell in a heartbreaker to Eastern New Mexico in the quarterfinals round of the Lone Star Conference Tournament, 66-62. 

The Texans move to 21-8 on the season with a 15-8 mark in conference play.

Mackenzie Hailey secured a career-high 31 points in the game. She is the 27th player in LSC women’s basketball championship history to reach the 30-point mark. The senior is also the first Texan women’s basketball player to reach 30 points since 2014.

In her third career start, Marissa Escamilla secured a double-double in points (10) and rebounds (10). This is the third career double-double for the sophomore.

Callie Boyles (7), Lucy Benson (6), Jayci Morton (4), Kaitlyn Guillory (2), and Kandyn Faurie (2) rounded out the scoring for the Texans.

The Texans outrebounded the Greyhounds 44-31. Hailey had eight boards, while Guillory and Morton contributed five each. 

The Texans and Greyhounds traded shots throughout the opening quarter. With under two minutes to play in the quarter, Tarleton held a six-point advantage, 13-7. Eastern went on a 7-0 run, which included three free throws, to tie the game at 13 at the end of the first.

The Greyhounds maintained a small lead through the first half of the second quarter. Tarleton regained the lead three times in the final three minutes of the half, but Eastern had an answer for every Texan play. The Greyhounds kept a two-point advantage into the locker rooms, 29-27.

Hailey led all scorers in the first half with 11 points. The senior grabbed five rebounds and Escamilla added six. The Texans held the Greyhounds to 11.1 percent three-point shooting (1-9) in the first half.

Tarleton went on a 17-4 run midway through the third quarter to gain its’ highest lead of nine, 46-37 at 3:28. The Texans maintained a seven-point advantage into the final 10 minutes, 45-52. Hailey scored 16 of her 31 points in the third quarter.

Eastern opened the final quarter on a 6-0 run to cut the Tarleton lead to one. The Texans were scoreless for over three minutes in the second half of the quarter, which propelled a 7-2 Greyhound run. 

The Texans await their NCAA South Central Regional Tournament fate. The selection show will take place at 9:00 p.m. CT on Sunday.


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