Texas Lutheran Knocks Off Colorado College in a Thriller

SEGUIN, TX -- Behind 19 points from Jayla Santa Maria (Edinburg/Edinburg) and a near double-double from Tanyse Moehrig (Spring Branch/Smithson Valley), the Texas Lutheran Bulldogs were able to rally from a 17-point first half deficit to defeat Colorado College in an 83-82 thriller Saturday evening at Memorial Gymnasium.

The Bulldogs improve to 5-4 with the win, while the Tigers fall to 3-8, extending their losing streak to five. There were eight ties and two lead changes - including the massive 27 point swing from the Bulldogs to close the first half and start the second - in this highly intense matchup in the Dog House.

Following a Colorado College run that saw them shrink the Bulldogs lead from eight to a tie at 82-all, Santa Maria made two clutch free throws in two separate trips to the free throw line to push the Bulldogs ahead 83-82. The Tigers would miss a three-point attempt at the buzzer to bring the game to a close.

Tanyse Moehrig was a force in the first half scoring eight points and securing six boards. The Bulldogs leaned heavily on upperclassmen Jayla Santa Maria, Sydney Shaw (Lockhart/Lockhart), Jenesis Navarro (San Antonio/Lee), and Morgan Rodriguez (New Braunfels/Canyon) who all had superb performances. Shaw scored 12 points - 10 of which came in the second half. Navarro stuffed the stat sheet scoring 10 points, grabbing four rebounds, dishing out six assists, and tallying three steals. Rodriguez contributed 10 points.

The Tigers came out roaring in the first quarter as the Bulldogs trailed by as much as 13 points in the opening quarter thanks, in part, to a stellar performance from Audrey Bayston who scored eight of her eventual 38 points in the opening quarter. The Bulldogs would battle back in the second quarter, led by Tanyse Moehrig and Elexis Morado (Kingsville/Santa Gertrudis) as the Bulldogs fought back from a 17-point deficit to tie the game at 40-all at halftime.

The Bulldogs would keep the hot hand in the third quarter as Shaw and Santa Maria aided the Bulldogs in obtaining their first lead of the evening as the Bulldogs would 61-55 heading into the final quarter. Just as it seemed the Bulldogs would pull away Bayston would explode for 15 points for the Tigers in the fourth to shrink the Bulldogs lead but it would prove to not be enough for the Tigers to steal one in the Dog House.

Texas Lutheran continues their home stand on Tuesday, December 21st, as they welcome St. Ambrose to Memorial Gymnasium. Tip-off is set for 2 PM. All streaming and stat links can be found on tlubulldogs.com.