(Story courtesy of Texas Lutheran University Athletics Communications)
MARSHALL, Texas -- No. 24 Texas Lutheran (24-4) is headed to the Round of 32 for the first time in program history after the Bulldogs downed No. 18/19 East Texas Baptist (23-5) on Friday night, 62-59. Kailee Mulkey and Angelina Sotelo made crucial free throws in the final seconds and Zaria Solis made a huge basket late to secure the win. Sarahi Jones led the Bulldogs with 17 points, and Lauren Sansano joined her as the only other Bulldog in double figures with 11 points and a team-high seven rebounds.
With the win, Texas Lutheran has set a new program record for wins in a single-season (24), surpassing the 2013-14 team, and secured the first NCAA Tournament win in program history. Also with the win, Texas Lutheran handed East Texas Baptist their first loss at home all season as the Tigers entered the game 12-0 at home in 2024-25. The win is a first for the Bulldogs over ETBU since 2016. With her 17 points Friday night, Sarahi Jones matched former Bulldog Taylor Dydalewicz for the most points in an NCAA Tournament game in program history. It is just the fifth time this season the Tigers were held under 60 points. Texas Lutheran led for all but 19 seconds on Friday.
Solis’s second chance basket with 21 seconds remaining gave Texas Lutheran the lead back at 61-59 after the Tigers erased a 14-point second half deficit. Solis, a freshman forward from Burnet, finished with nine points, five rebounds, and two blocks to lead the Bulldogs bench unit.
Kailee Mulkey split a pair of free throws with four seconds left that pushed the margin to three and a desperation three by the Tigers rimmed out as time expired to give Texas Lutheran its first NCAA Tournament win. The Bulldogs also gave Coach Troy Patterson his first NCAA Tournament victory as a head coach.
Angelina Sotelo also finished with nine points and a team-high three steals.
It was a low-scoring defensive first half as TLU led 19-10 after the first quarter before carrying a 28-26 lead into halftime. TLU scored on three of their first four possessions in the second half as they built up as high as a 14 point lead in the second half before the Tigers late rally.
Texas Lutheran hit 43.1 percent (25-58) from the field, while holding the Tigers to 34.3 percent (23-67).
The Bulldogs improved to 24-4 on the season and will advance to face SCAC foes, the McMurry War Hawks on Saturday at 7:15 PM. The game will be streamed on ncaa.com. All streaming and live stats links will be available on tlubulldogs.com.
