SEGUIN — Trailing 29-28 at the half, the Sul Ross State women's basketball team let one slip away on Saturday afternoon.
The Texas Lutheran Bulldogs outscored the Lobos, 15-9, in the fourth quarter to pull away and secure a 60-52 victory at Memorial Gymnasium.
"TLU shot the ball well when they needed baskets," said Sul Ross head coach E.J. Lee Smith. "I thought our players played hard. Sometimes it's not good enough. We must find the way to compete to win."
After two lead changes in the first quarter, Texas Lutheran led by five with 4:25 on the clock.
A three-pointer by Emily Bunger that came off an assist from Kayley Diaz cut the deficit to two points.
The Bulldogs went out ahead by four points with less than two minutes remaining in the opening frame.
Marley Rokas made a layup after grabbing an offensive rebound. Rokas was fouled as she later landed a free throw to put Sul Ross behind by one.
Texas Lutheran missed a three-pointer just as time expired to hold a 14-13 lead.
To start the second quarter, the Bulldogs began on a 6-0 run.
The run was ended after Victoria Aguayo made one of two free throws. The Lobos then cut the deficit to three with a jumper by Rokas.
Sul Ross held the lead twice in the second quarter.
A three-pointer by Texas Lutheran's Elexis Morado put her team ahead by two with 11 seconds remaining until halftime.
Diaz then made one of two free throws to make the score 29-28, in favor of the Bulldogs.
Texas Lutheran gained some breathing room in the third quarter by taking a 10-point lead with 4:21 to go.
The Lobos got seven points in the form of free throws to chisel the deficit down to two points to end the third quarter.
At one point during the fourth quarter the score was deadlocked at 45-all, but the Bulldogs were able to surge ahead by 10 points.
Sul Ross managed to get the deficit down to six after two free throws from Vania Hampton, but the late surge wasn't enough.
The second half proved to be the difference maker in the ballgame as the Lobos shot 5 of 17 from the field.
Rokas led the Lobos with 20 points, nine rebounds, three steals and one assist. Melody Martinez chipped in with nine points.
The Lobos were out-rebounded 45-38. Sul Ross shot 18 for 24 from the free throw line while landing four 3-pointers.
>> RECORDS: Sul Ross 1-2; Texas Lutheran 1-3
>> UP NEXT: The Lobos take on Trinity University in San Antonio at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 20.
