NOTE:  This game was forfeited by Wiley College on March 27, 2018.

MARSHALL, TX: The Texas Wesleyan University women's basketball team (0-1) opened the 2017-18 season with a 61-55 road loss to Wiley College (1-0) on Wednesday.

The Rams had chances tonight against the Wildcats, the shots just didn't fall when they needed to. The Wildcats outshot the Rams from the floor, 42 percent to 33 percent. TXWES did shoot better from behind the arc, 38 percent to 25 percent, and the home team was just plus one in rebounding and assists. The two teams finished with 7 steal each.

Karah Sicurella wasted no time in making her presence felt, dropping in a bucket from downtown for the first points of the game. Lexi Burns followed suit with a triple to make it a 6-0 lead two minutes into the contest. The Wildcats evened the score midway through the opening quarter before the Rams found a quick five on the heels of another Burns three-pointer. Wiley scored five points in the last 36 seconds of the quarter to keep the game knotted up 16 apiece.
 
The Wildcats earned a pair of free throws to take a slight edge early in the second before the game saw a four minute scoring drought. Tomi Sanchez broke the scoring silence for Rams, with a shot from long range to cut the Wiley lead to 21-20 with under three minutes remaining in the half. The home team outscored TXWES 5-1 in the remaining time, taking a 27-22 lead at halftime.
 
The Wildcats rallied with a 7-0 run to start the second half, grabbing a 12-point lead in the process. Burns interrupted the rally with another three ball, while Sicurella and Nicole Gleason found the bottom of the net from long range to cut the lead to 44-40 before the third quarter buzzer.
 
The Lady Rams charged back to start the fourth, outscoring their opponent 9-5 to tie the game at 49-49 on a Sicurella shot from beyond the arc. The Wildcats dug in though, maintaining a slight edge down the stretch. Wiley nursed a 6-1run in the final three minutes to hold on for a 61-55 win.
 
"We didn't shoot as well as we normally shoot," commented head coach Steve Trachier after the game. "Wiley's length created some matchup problems for us in terms of rebounding and we didn't the shot selection we wanted. That said, I thought the team gave a great effort and fought hard."
 
Three Lady Ram shooters finished in double digits. Burns posted 10 points, six rebounds, a pair of assists, and a block. Gleason had 10 points, five boards, and three assists in the loss. Falesha Fuller shot 50 percent from the floor with 10 points and four rebounds in the effort. Lorian Benjamin led the Rams with seven rebounds.
 
The Lady Rams will play the season without All-SAC standout Bailey Broadnax. Broadnax suffered a preseason knee injury and will spend the season under the medical redshirt tag.
 
Texas Wesleyan will look to get some competitive work in an exhibition with fellow Fort Worth school Texas Christian University tomorrow. Our own Taylor Coleman will square off against her older sister Sydney Coleman at Ed & Rae Schollmaier Arena. It is the first time the sisters will compete on opposing teams. Tip-off is at 6:30 p.m.