KINGSVILLE-- Three Javelinas scored in double figures but it wasn’t enough as the Tarleton State TexAnns halted a late comeback by the Javelinas for a 64-58 win Monday night at Kleberg Bank Court.
The loss dropped the Javelinas to 8-13 overall and 3-5 in the Lone Star Conference South Division. Tarleton State improved to 12-6 overall and 5-3 in league play.
“When you shoot 32 percent at home it’s pretty tough to win,” Javelina head coach Dina Kangas said. “We beat them in every statistical category. They got 46 shots off we got 62. Our defense got us back in it in the second half. They turned the ball over against our pressure and that helped us a lot.”
Angela Trotter led three Javelinas scoring in double figures with 16 points and six rebounds, Lana Toki put up 14 points and freshman Felicia Soza had her best night as a Javelina scoring a career-high 12 points, nine of those coming from behind the 3-point arch.
“I think the last three or four games she (Soza) really picked it up and she started playing a lot better and that’s what freshmen do,” Kangas said “They come in and play pretty scared and then all of a sudden the end of the year comes around and they get a little more comfortable. She’s just been playing really hard and we’re happy with how she played. She shot the ball really well and her defense was pretty decent too.”
Krystal Cole and D’Anna Dingler led the TexAnns Monday night. Cole had 13 points and four steals while Dingler had 13 as well with five rebounds. Katie Crawford added 11 points and seven assists and JoAnne Jones had 10 points five rebounds.
Despite shooting only 24 percent in the first half, the Javelinas trailed by only seven, 26-19 at the half.
But Tarleton State scored 14 of the first 18 points to start the second half and led 40-23 with 12:25 left in the game.
That’s when the Javelinas rallied, going on an 11-0 run to cut the lead to six, 40-34.
Tarelton built the lead back up to 10, 52-42, but again the Javelinas rallied, getting to within two, 57-55 with 1:20 remaining on a 3-point play by Ali Scott.
The TexAnns made three consecutive free throws to build the lead back to five, 60-55, but Kayla Naylor’s 3-point basket with 14 seconds remaining made it a two-point game again 60-58.
Katie Crawford closed the door on the Javelinas, hitting four consecutive free throws in the final 12 seconds.
The Javelinas couldn’t by a basket early in the game, making just 2 of their first 15 shots to start the game, but stayed in the game in the first half thanks to some solid defense, holding the TexAnns to just 34 percent shooting in the first half.
The Javelinas return to action Thursday night as they begin a road trip at #10 West Texas A&M who won last week at Kleberg Bank Court 80-55. The Hogs will be on the road for the following two weeks before returning home Feb. 22 to host Angelo State.
