ABILENE, Texas (Interstat) — Gia Adams scored 23 points and dished out eight assists, and the Tarleton State Texans survived a late rally to defeat the Buffalo Bulls 70-65 in a nonconference women’s basketball game Friday night at Kimbrell Arena.

In a contest where momentum swung decisively in the third quarter, Tarleton State used a dominant 25-point period to build a cushion that ultimately proved insurmountable for Buffalo, despite a frantic fourth-quarter push by the Bulls.

The game was a tale of two halves, with the first two quarters featuring a tight, back-and-forth struggle. Tarleton State led 18-16 after the first quarter and took a 35-29 advantage into halftime. The Texans’ interior presence, anchored by 6-foot-6 freshman Elodie Lutbert of Martinique, provided an early spark. Lutbert scored 11 points and blocked three shots in just 15 minutes, altering numerous attempts at the rim.

The most important part of the game unfolded after the break. Tarleton State exploded in the third quarter, outscoring Buffalo 25-18 to open a 60-47 lead heading into the final frame. Adams, the 5-foot-6 guard from Houston, was the catalyst. She orchestrated the offense and connected on a series of key shots, including two three-pointers during the period, to stretch the Texans’ lead.

Buffalo, which fell to 2-8 on the season, refused to go quietly. The Bulls mounted a sustained comeback in the fourth quarter, applying defensive pressure that forced several Tarleton State turnovers. Aniya Rowe, who led Buffalo with 19 points and five assists, spearheaded the charge alongside Deana Thompson, who added 14 points. The Bulls chipped away at the deficit, closing to within three points in the final minute.

The final 60 seconds were a tense affair of fouls, timeouts, and missed opportunities for the Bulls. With Tarleton State clinging to a narrow lead, Buffalo had multiple chances to tie or take the lead but could not convert critical shots. A key sequence saw Buffalo’s Paula Lopez miss a jumper with six seconds remaining that would have cut the lead to one. Tarleton State secured the defensive rebound and Adams was fouled, sinking a free throw to effectively seal the outcome.

Beyond Adams and Lutbert, Tarleton State received contributions from Shadasia Brackens, who scored 10 points, and Luka Malinka, who provided a crucial spark off the bench with eight points, including two three-pointers in the fourth quarter to help stem Buffalo’s rally.

For Buffalo, Rowe’s 19 points were supplemented by 13 points each from Meg Lucas and Paula Lopez. Lucas, a 6-foot-1 forward from Australia, also pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds. The Bulls struggled with consistency, however, committing 22 turnovers which led to 18 points for the Texans.

The win improved Tarleton State’s record to 6-4, while Buffalo dropped to 2-8. The game was played as part of a multi-team event in Abilene. Tarleton State will face Montana at the same venue on Saturday, while Buffalo is scheduled to play Abilene Christian.

According to Interstat’s ELO system, Buffalo entered the game with a 75.7 percent probability to win, making the Texans’ victory a statistically significant upset. The announced attendance was 775.