Tarleton State Women’s Basketball Faces Rematch at Southern Utah
CEDAR CITY, Utah – The Tarleton State Women’s Basketball team continues its two-game road trip in Utah with a Wednesday night matchup against Southern Utah at 7:30 p.m. Mountain Time at the America First Event Center. The contest marks a quick rematch for the Texans, who recently completed the largest comeback in the program’s Division I era against the Thunderbirds just eleven days prior.
On February 7th, Tarleton State overcame an 18-point deficit to defeat Southern Utah 59-57 at the EECU Center, marking the largest come-from-behind victory in the last two decades for the program. The team will look to replicate that success on the road.
Fans can catch the game live on ESPN+ and listen to Clayton Neville’s radio broadcast on the Tarleton Sports Network.
Comeback Kids
- Down by 18 points, Tarleton State Women’s Basketball completed the largest comeback in the Division I era and defeated Southern Utah 59-57 on Feb. 7.
- The comeback marks the largest come-from-behind effort in the last two decades.
- The biggest comeback the Texans have made since is 17 points against Cameron on December 3, 2016, and Angelo State on March 5, 2017.
- The effort marked the second time this season the Texans trailed at halftime and ended the game in victory. Tarleton State trailed UT Arlington at the half on Jan. 21, later rallying in the second half to defeat the Lady Mavs.
Strong Starters
- Tarleton State’s starting five has accounted for the majority of the Texans’ scoring this season.
- The Texans have used eight different starting lineup combinations this season, with each starting five accounting for at least 53% of the team’s scoring.
- The starting five for the last four games (Gia Adams, Jakoriah Long, Kyriana Jones, Caroline Lyles, and Elodie Lutbert) have accounted for 83.3% of the Texans’ points.
- Tarleton State’s five starters all scored in double figures in a win against Southern Utah on January 15, combining for 67 of the Texans’ 81 points.
- The starting five of Adams, Long, Jones, Shadasia Brackens and Lutbert have all scored in double figures in three games this season.
- All five starters scored in double figures in back-to-back games on Dec. 2-7 (at Mississippi Valley State, vs. Texas A&M-San Antonio). It was the first time that had happened since Feb. 16-18, 1989.
Letting Long Loose
- Tarleton State Women’s Basketball senior guard Jakoriah Long is a scoring threat for the Texans, averaging over 13 points per game in conference play and over 10 points per game overall last year. She was named to the All-WAC Second Team in 2024-25 and the Preseason All-WAC Team entering 2025-26.
- Long knocked down her 100th 3-pointer in addition to 19 points at CBU on January 3, moving into the top 10 on the program’s all-time career threes list.
- She needs three more to pass D’Anna Dingler (2005-09) for sixth on the program’s all-time career 3-pointers list.
- Long had a season-high 24 points to lead the Texans to a come-from-behind win against Southern Utah on February 7. Her 24 points helped the Texans erase an 18-point deficit, the biggest comeback by the Texans in the Division I era.
- Long had her first Division I double-double earlier this year, pouring in 11 points and a career-high 10 rebounds in Tarleton State’s double overtime win over Houston Christian on November 9.
- The senior guard set a new Division I Era single game program record with seven made 3-pointers twice last season.
- Long is the first Texan in the Division I Era to post two consecutive 25-point games. She is the first Texan since the 2013-14 season to post back-to-back games with at least 25 points (Kiara Wright, Feb. 5-8, 2014).
- She also became the first Texan in the Division I era to have back-to-back games with six or more 3-pointers. She is the first Texan since the 2011-12 season to have two consecutive games with six or more 3-pointers.
Freshman center Elodie Lutbert has emerged as a key player for the Texans, recently earning WAC Newcomer of the Week honors. Lutbert is coming off a season-high 18-point performance in the team’s previous game against ACU on February 14.
