MACOMB, Ill. – Tarleton had already had a good start offensively to the season, but their shooting performance on Wednesday was nearly unprecedented.
The Texans made their second most three-pointers in a game in program history, 14, as they handled Western Illinois at Western Hall in Macomb, 84-69. Tarleton improved to 4-2 on the year, dropping the Leathernecks to 1-5.
Tarleton shot 14-of-29 (.483) from distance on the night, their second most three-point makes only behind the Texans’ 16 made against Champion Christian on Dec. 12, 2020. The trio of Teresa Da Silva, Jenna Dick and Tyler Jackson combined to shoot 12-of-21 (.571) from three-point land, finishing with 53 points altogether.
Da Silva achieved Tarleton’s first double-double of the season with 21 points on 7-of-12 shooting, including 5-of-8 from distance, 10 rebounds, and three assists. It makes back-to-back 20+ point games for the junior, her third in six games to start the year.
Dick poured in 17 points off the bench on 6-of-10 shooting, 4-of-8 from downtown. It’s a season-high for the junior and ties the most she’s scored at Tarleton, matching her 17 scored against UTRGV on Feb. 24 last season.
Jackson notched 15 points (3-5 3PT, 6-6 FT), three rebounds and three steals for her fifth double-digit performance in six games. Mayra Caicedo had a season-high, and game-high, six assists, adding eight points and three rebounds in 20 minutes.
The start to Wednesday’s game foreshadowed the night for Tarleton, with the Texans draining a deep shot on each of their first three possessions, helping them jump out to a 13-2 lead. It was looking like Tarleton might cruise from there, but the Leathernecks responded with a 10-0 run to end the quarter to trail by just one through the first 10 minutes, 13-12.
The Texans went on another early quarter run to start the second, scoring the first seven points and going on a 13-1 spurt to lead 26-13. The Texans kept the foot on the gas this time, leading by 18 a few times in the frame and taking a 42-24 lead into the locker room.
It was more of the same for most of the third quarter, with Tarleton opening a 21-point lead, ahead 62-41 with three minutes left. Western Illinois got a burst to end the quarter on a 9-1 run to win the quarter 26-22 and trail 64-50 heading into the fourth.
There were 23 combined free throw attempts in the fourth quarter as the teams went back-and-forth. Tarleton’s win was never in doubt in the second half, making it back-to-back seasons starting with a 4-2 mark through six games.
Tarleton widely outshot Western Illinois 26-of-58 (.448) to 18-of-53 (.340), doubling them in three-point makes with the Leathernecks shooting 7-of-28 (.250) from distance.
Tarleton returns home on Tuesday at 6 p.m. CT against Weber State for Ugly Christmas Sweater Theme Night. The Wildcats are 3-3 this year with a win in hand against the WAC’s Utah Valley 55-44.
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