STEPHENVILLE, Texas (Interstat) — Tarleton State held off a late Southern Utah surge for a 59-57 women’s basketball victory Saturday at Wisdom Gym.

The Thunderbirds led 22-10 after the first quarter, but the Texans used an 18-10 second quarter to narrow the gap and took control with a 16-8 third. Southern Utah’s fourth-quarter rally came up just short. Jakoriah Long led all scorers with 24 points for Tarleton State. Devyn Kiernan scored 16 for Southern Utah. Caroline Lyles added an 11-point, 11-rebound double-double for the Texans.

Attendance was 747. Tarleton State improved to 12-11. Southern Utah fell to 15-8. The teams meet again Feb. 18 in Cedar City.