San Antonio – Farren Fox’s rebound and short jump shot with two seconds left in the game, completed an amazing comeback from a 20-point deficit and lifted St. Mary’s University to a 69-68 win over Tarleton State University Sunday afternoon at the McDermott Center on the final day of the Incarnate Word Classic.

The Rattlers had to rally after a 21-1 Texan run in the first half turned a 15-13 St. Mary’s lead into a 36-16 deficit with 4:28 left in the half. The Rattlers closed the first period with an 11-2 run of their own to make it an 11-point game at the break. They took that momentum and slowly pecked away at the Texan lead in the second half. Natalie Gamez (Sr., San Antonio) finally brought the Rattlers back to tie the game with a three-pointer at the 8:19 mark. Chastity Noble (Jr., El Paso) followed with a short jumper to make it a 55-53 Rattler lead with 7:48 left in the game. However the Texans retook the lead and increased the margin to five points with just 2:22 left.

Jessie Smith (Sr., Boerne) started the Rattlers closing rally by hitting two free throws with 1:36 left to make the score 68-65. Ashton Benford (Sr., Waxahachie) then picked up her only steal of the game, leading to a pair of free throws by Noble, making the score 68-67 with just 47 seconds left. A Tarleton State turnover gave the ball back to the Rattlers with just 19 seconds left. Gamez took the potential game-winning shot with six seconds left, but missed. However Fox was there to get the rebound and put the shot in with the clock running down to give the Rattlers the win.

Gamez led the Rattlers with 21 points, her second straight 20-plus point game. Mallory Moeller (So., Seguin) added 12 points, while Rachel Jones (Sr., Little Rock, Ark.) scored 10 points and led the team with four assists. JoAnne Jones led TSU with 21 points.

With the win the Rattlers are 2-0 this season and have won 26 straight regular season games, dating back to last season. Tarleton State is now 0-2. St. Mary’s will return to action on Thursday, Nov. 20, when they travel to Tahlequah, Okla., to face Northeastern State University at 6 p.m.

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