TSU shutdown by ACU Wildcats

BY: JAXON HANSARD / Sports Editor

On Jan 18 Tarleton women’s basketball team made the trip down to Abilene to play the ACU Wildcats for the annual I-20 Showdown between the two purple schools. The Texans are in a “New Era” under the direction of Bill Brock who was a longtime assistant to the legendary women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey.

Despite coach Brock’s 40 years of coaching experience and multiple NCAA Division 1 titles, the Purple and White have a 4-11 record. 

The Texans had a poor start which made it difficult to get back into the game and keep it competitive in the 51-73 loss. 

Shooting 1-7 from the three-point line was a real punch to the gut for the struggling Texans to get into the game. 

After being down 11-20 in the first quarter Tarleton tied the game at one point in the second quarter and scored just as many points as ACU in the second quarter but still ended up down 10 at halftime. 

They had some hot shooting moments but could not string them together with enough defensive stops to take the lead back. 

The Texans were able to shoot 100% from the free throw line which was highlighted as one of the strengths of the purple on the ESPN+ broadcast as well as the 18 points in the paint. 

One of the fun stories to come from this game was the pair of sisters playing on the court. Junior Tarleton guard Tyler Jackson competed against her sister Zoe Jackson. 

While both sisters from Allen, Texas competed tonight, the theme of ACU coming out on top continued with Zoe scoring 11 points in her 11 minutes of playing time compared to Tarleton’s sister Tyler two points in 17 minutes of her playing time. 

The Texans bench was able to put points on the board scoring 33 of their 51 total points led by redshirt freshman Teresa Maggio’s career-high 11 points in her 20 minutes off the bench. 

The Texans lost this match against ACU 51-73 and are set to play the Wildcats again in Stephenville Feb 1