SAN ANGELO – The Angelo State women's basketball team used a strong second half to win its 10th straight game with a 68-49 victory over Tarleton State on Saturday at Stephens Arena in the Junell Center.
The Belles (18-4, 13-3 LSC) dominated the paint by a score of 44-16 and outrebounded TSU 49-41. The TexAnns (16-8, 10-6 LSC) were limited to just 26.6 percent shooting for the game. ASU added 19 points from its bench and 20 second chance points. The 10 straight wins are the most since 10 straight last season.
Three players scored in double figures led by De'Anira Moore's 10th double-double of the season. The sophomore scored 16 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Marquita Daniels added 12 points, five assists and two steals while Ekiya Gray scored 11 points with nine rebounds.
Tied at 28 through the first two quarter, the Belles came out in the second half and outscored TSU 40-21. ASU went on a 10-0 run to start the second half and limited TSU to just 23.5 percent from the field. Moore started it off with a layup and Daniels and Keanna Kelly drained back-to-back 3-pointers. Daniels capped it off with a layup. A few minutes later a tip-in by Gray pushed the advantage to 44-32. Tarleton State ended the quarter on a 5-1 run of their own to cut ASU's deficit to 45-37 after three quarters.
The Belles pulled away to start the fourth quarter with a strong defensive performance holding the TexAnns to 22.2 percent from the field. A layup by Gray and a tip-in from Dezirae Hampton sparked an 11-2 run highlighted by a 3-pointer from Daniels. Kynese Davis hit a layup to make the score 58-39 with 4:46 to play. The two teams would trade buckets the rest of the way with Tarleton State not getting any closer than 14. Mikayla Blount ended the night with a 3-pointer to bring the final 64-49.
ASU opened the game on a 7-0 run as Moore scored the first five points of the game. Tarleton State answered with a 10-0 run to take the lead with 4:55 to go in the first quarter. A 3-pointer by Kynese Davis tied the game at 10 and Angelo State would score five of the next eight to lead 15—13 going into the second quarter.
The second quarter featured five ties and four lead changes. The Belles would lead by four points twice but each time but Tarleton State tied it each time. Tied at 24 after a layup from Daniels, the TexAnns scored four straight points. ASU would answer with back-to-back layups from Gray to tie game going into halftime.
The Belles will hit the road to face UTPB on Thursday, Feb. 15 and West Texas A&M on Saturday, Feb. 17.
