STEPHENVILLE – Tarleton State used an 11-1 start to take control of the game early and held on for a 74-66 win over Abilene Christian on Thursday.
The Texans led 24-9 after the first quarter and still had a 14-point lead midway through the second quarter. The Wildcats closed out the half on a 12-4 run with
Bella Earle sinking a three-pointer late to make it a 39-36 game at the half.
Meredith Mayes scored to make it a one-point game 30 seconds into the second half but ACU couldn't get the lead and trailed 61-52 after three quarters. The Cats got no closer than five points after that.
Earle led the Wildcats with 14 points and four assists while Mayes ended with 11 points and a team-leading seven rebounds.
Payton Hull scored 10 points.
The Cats head home for the next four games, beginning with Seattle on Thursday at 6 p.m.
