STEPHENVILLE – Tarleton has been impressive with its deep shooting and Teresa Da Silva has been impressive overall. Both sentiments remained true on Tuesday in the Texans’ commanding home victory over Weber State 86-69.
Tarleton (5-2, 0-0 WAC) improved to 4-0 at Wisdom Gym this season with the big victory over the Wildcats (4-5, 0-0 Big Sky) in Stephenville, winning their second straight game and third of their last four.
The Texans made 12-of-28 (.429) from the three-point line, compared to just a 1-of-7 (.143) clip by Weber State from distance. Over the Texans’ last two games, they’ve made 26 three-pointers, shooting 26-of-57 (.456) total. Tuesday’s 12 threes were all courtesy of Da Silva (5-of-8), Tyler Jackson (4-of-5) and Jenna Dick (3-of-4). The trio has combined for 24 three-point makes over the last two games.
Da Silva recorded 31 points (6-14 FG, 5-8 3PT, 14-16 FT), nine rebounds, six assists, three steals and a block in 35 minutes. It is the first 30+ point game by a Texan in their NCAA Division I era, the 21st 30+ point game in their NCAA era. Mackenzie Hailey had the last 30+ point game vs. Eastern New Mexico on March 5, 2020.
In Tarleton’s first seven games this year, Da Silva has scored 20+ points four times.
Jackson poured in 16 points (5-6 FG, 4-5 3PT, 2-2 FT), adding two assists. Mayra Caicedo had 13 points (7-10 FT), four assists, three rebounds and four steals. Dick led the bench with 11 points (4-5 FG, 3-4 3PT).
Weber State actually outshot and outrebounded Tarleton in this one, but the game was never that close due to the Texans’ three-point barrage and turnover difference. Tarleton forced 24 turnovers with 13 steals, compared to 12 turnovers themselves and four steals by the Wildcats.
Tarleton got off to another hot start, jumping out to an 11-3 lead, finishing the first quarter up 18-13. In the second quarter, the Texans’ couldn’t miss, scoring 25 points thanks to a 6-of-10 clip from distance. They had a 15-4 run to nearly end the quarter to go up 20, heading to the locker room up 19 at 43-24.
The Texans finally cooled down in the third quarter, and Weber State took advantage, winning the frame 20-14 to get within striking distance going into the fourth with the score 57-44. Tarleton responded early in the final frame to put the game to bed, and the amount of whistles towards the end of the game was unmatched, a total of 31 free throw attempts in the fourth quarter. Both teams shot an identical 26-of-32 (.813) from the stripe in the contest.
Weber State was led by Daryn Hickok, who finished with 28 points (9-13 FG, 10-11 FT), five rebounds and three assists. Jadyn Matthews also scored in double figures with 10 points, adding seven rebounds and two steals.
Tarleton is now 5-2 for the second straight season. They’ll go for 6-2, which would be their best start since 2018-19, at Eastern Washington on Saturday at 4 p.m. CT. The Eagles are 4-2 on the year, and 3-1 at home on Reese Court in Cheney, Washington.
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