Starting their second losing streak of the season, the Southern Utah University women’s basketball team took on Tarleton State University in Texas on Thursday, Jan. 15. SUU started slow and let the Texans pour on points, losing 81-55.
With the loss, the T-Birds hold an 11-6 record with a 3-2 conference standing.
Tarleton State improved to 8-8 with the win and has a 2-3 conference record. They broke a three-game losing streak.
First quarter
After the Texans jumped to an 8-2 lead, SUU scored a jumper and a three before Shadasia Brackens did the same to keep Tarleton ahead. The T-Birds did their best to stay in the game, staying within seven points for nearly the entire quarter.
With under four minutes left, the Texans got three offensive rebounds in a row but missed all three shots. After TSU missed two more shots at the free-throw line, SUU got a steal and a three-pointer attempt, but missed as well.
Tarleton State ended the period on an 8-2 run, leading 23-14 at the break. The Thunderbirds were outplayed in the paint early, recording seven rebounds to TSU’s 18.
Second quarter
The teams stayed relatively even through the first few minutes, but the Texans had built a 12-point lead at the seven-minute mark. The teams traded points at the halfway mark of the period as SUU still trailed by nine points.
Tarleton then went on an 8-1 run, holding the T-Birds to just one free throw over four minutes. Morgan Trigueiro hit a late three to keep SUU as close as possible, but they were behind 40-27 at the half.
Third quarter
Tarleton continued going on runs of eight points, scoring eight of the first 10 in the quarter. SUU hit two free throws after going to a timeout, but a three from Jakoriah Long gave TSU a 20-point lead.
Southern Utah made a valiant effort to get back into the game, scoring seven of the next nine points to cut the massive deficit. Unfortunately, the Texan defense held the T-Birds to zero points over the next three minutes.
SUU scored just one field goal over the final four and a half minutes. They trailed 62-42 going into the final quarter
Fourth quarter
With the lead as high as it was, Tarleton was able to keep stifling the T-Bird offense and cruise to a win. The deficit was below 20 points for only two and a half minutes in this quarter.
The Thunderbirds were held to just three points and one field goal over the final four minutes of this quarter as well. The Texans ended up running away with the 81-55 win.
Key stats
— In their last four games, SUU has shot 25% from three or worse three times. They went 5-20 from beyond the arc this game.
— SUU’s field goal percentage of 32.2% was their third-worst in a game this season.
— Every Tarleton State starter recorded double-digit points.
— Tarleton dominated down low, scoring 44 paint points to SUU’s 22. They also scored 16 points off turnovers to SUU’s four.
Top T-Birds
— Sierra Chambers scored 16 points with 10 coming in the fourth quarter. She also had two assists and two steals and shot 4-5 inside the three-point line.
— Kortney Doman nabbed 11 points, five rebounds, two blocks and an assist. She was the only T-Bird to knock down more than one three-pointer.
— Ava Uhrich nearly had another double-double with 15 rebounds, eight points, two assists and two steals.
What’s next?
SUU continues their road trip with a game against Abilene Christian University on Saturday, Jan. 17 at noon. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+.
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Author: Payson Davis
Photographer: SUU Athletics
Editor: Heather Turner
