The Tarleton State TexAnns enter their fourth consecutive NCAA Division II Tournament against a familiar foe Friday: fellow Lone Star Conference member Midwestern State.
The 3:30 p.m. tip-off at Brownson Arena in Grand Junction, Colo., will mark the fourth time the teams have met this season, with Midwestern State (24-5) winning all three previous games, the most recent a 100-83 victory in the conference semifinals.“We need to work on blocking out and limiting their second chance points,” TexAnns coach Ronnie Hearne said. “We have to do what we can to slow their pace.”Tarleton State (19-9) is likely to lean on Kiara Wright, the LSC Player of the Year. She averaged 30 points and 15.5 rebounds in TSU’s two tournament games.“She’s been a dominant player all year long,” Hearne said. “She really had to carry the burden and has done a tremendous job on the offensive boards.”For Wright and the TexAnns, an improvement on the backboards is a key to success. Midwestern State outrebounded Tarleton 42-26 in their last meeting. The 100 points scored against the TexAnns were a season-high allowed.The winner will meet the winner of St. Mary’s-Metro State winner at 5 p.m. Saturday.Texans on a rollThe Tarleton State men’s team is also marking its fourth consecutive appearance into the NCAA Division II tournament.The Texans (20-9) are coming off their second straight Lone Star Conference championship after defeating Midwestern State 53-50.The reward is a first-round meeting against No. 3 Metro State at 7 p.m. Saturday in Denver. The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference champions are 27-2 and are facing the Texans for the first time.Metro State is led by four starters averaging in double digits, including Brandon Jefferson with 15.2.Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
