CEDAR CITY, Utah – The Tarleton State Women’s Basketball team embarks on a two-game road trip in Utah this week, beginning with a Wednesday night matchup against Southern Utah at 7:30 p.m. MT at the America First Event Center. The contest presents 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.
Texans Riding High After Historic Comeback
The February 7th victory against Southern Utah wasn’t just a win; it was a testament to the team’s resilience. Down by 18 points, the Texans demonstrated a remarkable ability to rally, securing a 59-57 victory. This comeback surpassed previous significant comebacks against Cameron (17 points on December 3, 2016) and Angelo State (17 points on March 5, 2017). It also marked the second time this season Tarleton State overcame a halftime deficit to secure a win, having previously rallied against UT Arlington on January 21st.
Lutbert Leads the Way for Tarleton State
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 14th. Her contributions have been vital to Tarleton State’s success, and she will be a player to watch against Southern Utah.
Strong Starting Five Fuels Tarleton State’s Offense
Tarleton State’s starting lineup has consistently been a driving force behind the team’s scoring this season. Despite utilizing eight different starting combinations throughout the year, each lineup has contributed at least 53% of the team’s total points. The current starting five – Gia Adams, Jakoriah Long, Kyriana Jones, Caroline Lyles, and Elodie Lutbert – has accounted for a remarkable 83.3% of the team’s points in the last four games. On January 15th, all five starters scored in double figures against Southern Utah, combining for 67 of the team’s 81 points.
Jakoriah Long: A Scoring Threat for the Texans
Senior guard Jakoriah Long continues to be a significant scoring threat for Tarleton State, averaging over 13 points per game in conference play and exceeding 10 points per game overall last year. Recognized for her talent, Long was named to the All-WAC Second Team in 2024-25 and earned a spot on the Preseason All-WAC Team entering the 2025-26 season. She recently reached a milestone, knocking down her 100th 3-pointer on January 3rd against CBU, moving her into the top 10 on the program’s all-time career three-pointers list. She currently needs just three more to surpass D’Anna Dingler (2005-09) for sixth place. Long’s season-high of 24 points on February 7th against Southern Utah was instrumental in the team’s historic comeback.
Long also achieved her first Division I double-double earlier this season, recording 11 points and a career-high 10 rebounds in a double-overtime win against Houston Christian on November 9th. She set a new Division I era program record with seven made 3-pointers twice last season and was the first Texan in the Division I era to post consecutive 25-point games, a feat not seen since Kiara Wright in February 2014. She also holds the distinction of being the first Texan since the 2011-12 season to record back-to-back games with six or more 3-pointers.
Following Wednesday’s game against Southern Utah, Tarleton State will continue its Utah road trip with a game against another Western Athletic Conference opponent. The team will look to build on their recent success and continue their strong performance as they navigate the remainder of the season.
What are your thoughts on Tarleton State’s chances against Southern Utah? Share your predictions in the comments below!
