WESTWEGO, La. – Holding its opponent to under 45 points for the second straight game, Tarleton Women’s Basketball won its opening game of the Big Easy Classic 54-40 over Delaware at the Alario Center Friday night.
The Texans, who held Houston Christian to just 42 points in Tuesday’s win, held back-to-back opponents to under 45 points for the first time in the Division I Era. It is the first time since 2013 Tarleton State had two consecutive wins while holding the opposition to under 45 points.
Sophomore center Faith Acker led the Texans with her first double-double of the season, scoring 17 points to go with 10 rebounds. Senior guard Jakoriah Long scored 14 first half points en route to a season-high 16 points and nine rebounds.
Long opened the Tarleton scoring in the opening minutes, but Delaware came out with points on each of its next three possessions to take the lead. A pair of free throws from Acker and a 3-pointer from Long allowed the Texans to swing the advantage before the Blue Hens used a 7-0 scoring run to take back the lead. After senior forward Alani Fluker tied it up with a layup, Delaware answered back with a score to make it a 15-13 game following the first period.
The Texans opened the second quarter by taking the lead back, with a jumper by senior guard Arieona Rosborough and a 3-pointer by senior guard Miannah Little putting Tarleton out in front. The Blue Hens looked to pull away by going on another 7-0 scoring run, but Long took over to put the Texans back on top.
The Waco, Texas, native scored six straight points and capitalized off her steal with a 3-pointer with 3:37 left in the first half to put Tarleton ahead by four. Delaware ended a three and a half minute scoring drought with a pair of free throws just to make it a 26-24 game before the halftime horn.
After Delaware tied it up in the third quarter, Tarleton scored eight unanswered to stretch the lead. The Blue Hens knocked down a 3-pointer to cut the Texans’ lead, but Acker converted a basket while drawing the foul to keep the Tarleton momentum at bay. Tarleton ended the third quarter on a 10-0 scoring run to move ahead by double-digits entering the final period.
Delaware’s first possession of the fourth quarter ended the scoring drought before baskets from junior guard/forward Kyriana Jones and Acker put the Texans in front by 15. A layup with the foul drawn by Acker capped off the Tarleton scoring and allowed the Texans to open the Big Easy Classic victorious.
Tarleton will face Nicholls on Saturday at 8 p.m. to wrap up the Big Easy Classic. Nicholls defeated Evansville on Friday, setting up the finale in the Fleur de Lis bracket.
Postgame Notes
- Tarleton State defeated Delaware 54-40 in the Big Easy Classic Friday night in the two school’s first meeting. The Texans will face Nicholls, who defeated Evansville Friday night, in the Fleur de Lis bracket finale on Saturday at 8 p.m.
- The Texans held the Blue Hens to just 40 points, the second consecutive game they held their opponent to fewer than 45 points. It is the first time in the Division I Era the Texans held back-to-back opponents to under 45 points. It is the first time since 2013 Tarleton State had two consecutive wins while holding the opposition to under 45 points.
- Sophomore center Faith Acker recorded a season-high 17 points to go with 10 rebounds, her first double-double of the season. Acker’s last double-double came March 14, 2024 in the WAC Quarterfinals against SFA.
- Senior guard Jakoriah Long dropped in a season-high 16 points, scoring 14 in the first half. Long matched a season-high nine rebounds, one shy of her first double-double of the season.
- Sophomore guard/forward Kyriana Jones scored her first points as a Texan at the 7:03 mark in the third quarter with a 3-pointer.
- Tarleton State has won four out of its last five games, only giving up an average of 46.5 points per game during that stretch to the opposition.
- The Texans shot a season-best 86.7% from the free throw line, knocking in 13 of 15 from the charity strike.
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