A&M Consolidated guard Tierra Tucker has more targets than she did last season, one reason for the Lady Tigers to feel good as they aim for a return to the playoffs.

The Lady Tigers proved too deep and balanced for Lufkin on Tuesday night, pulling away in the second half to beat the Lady Panthers 73-44 in a nondistrict game at Tiger Gym.

Tucker is the only returning starter from the Consol team that missed the playoffs last season despite the presence of All-America center Karla Gilbert. While Gilbert made her collegiate debut a few miles away at Texas A&M on Tuesday, the Lady Tigers showed a more proportioned lineup bolstered by three transfers and a freshman.

Sisters Taylor Tucker, Tori Tucker and Tiara Tucker transferred to Consol after helping Rudder reach the Class 3A regional tournament last season. They joined Tierra Tucker (no relation) in the starting lineup along with freshman guard Blair Schaefer.

The ensemble cast made sweet music in the second half against Lufkin. Tierra Tucker collected four of her eight assists during the third quarter as Consol doubled a six-point halftime lead.

Consol (2-1) scored 10 consecutive points during the third quarter and added an 18-0 run in the fourth while Tierra Tucker was leading a lineup filled with reserves.

"I felt like we shared the ball well," first-year Consol head coach Karen Heintz said. "Tierra's surrounded with some kids that are very team-oriented, and that's one reason I'm proud of these kids. Tierra and Blair both are very instrumental in getting the offense going and telling people where to go, which is a new role for them."

Senior Taylor Tucker has moved smoothly into her role as Consol's primary inside threat. The 6-foot post, who signed with Louisiana-Lafayette last week, delivered her third consecutive double-double with 15 points and 16 rebounds.

Schaefer was Consol's leading scorer with 17 points, connecting on 10 of 11 free throws. Senior Bethany Daily added 13 points and Tori Tucker had 11.

The Lady Tigers made 25 of 38 free throws, improving in one area that proved costly during a 64-61 loss to Huntsville in the season opener. Consol missed 10 free throws in the fourth quarter of that game, in which Huntsville overcame a 17-point halftime deficit.

Expect rebounding to be high on Heintz's fix-it list after the Lufkin game. The Lady Panthers finished with a 46-45 rebounding edge that seemed larger because Lufkin (0-2) grabbed 19 offensive boards, including nine in the second quarter.

Some of the rebounding woes came because Consol played a zone defense, something Heintz detests but the Lady Tigers used because Lufkin did not shoot well from the outside.

"That is a concern," Heintz said. "We did not emphasize boxing out as much as we needed to, but that will get corrected."

Consol 73, Lufkin 44

(Numbers after names indicate field goals, free throws made-attempted, fouls and points)

CONSOL (2-1) -- Tiara Tucker 0 0-0 3 0; Tori Tucker 4 1-2 2 11; Blair Schaefer 3 10-11 2 11; Leah Gonzales 0 0-0 0 0; Mindy Davis 2 1-2 3 5; Cierra Thomas 0 0-0 0 0; Micayla Gooden 0 0-0 0 0; Bethany Daily 2 8-12 2 13; Tierra Tucker 4 0-1 2 8; Taylor Tucker 5 5-8 2 15; Madison Becker 2 0-2 0 4. Totals: 22 25-38 15 73.

LUFKIN (0-2) -- Kassie Jones 3 1-2 2 7; Ivorie Ford 2 2-3 5 6; Chun Williams 4 4-4 4 12; Alexus Sowell 1 0-0 2 3; Erica Hodge 0 0-0 1 0; Bria Yarbrough 1 0-0 2 2; Zanie Anderson 0 2-4 1 2; Ebone Williams 1 0-3 4 2; Mykie Smith 5 0-2 5 10. Totals: 17 9-18 26 44.

Lufkin 13 8 13 10 -- 44

Consol 14 13 19 27 -- 73

3-point shooting: Consol 4-11; Lufkin 1-11.

Rebounds: Consol 45; Lufkin 46.

Turnovers: Consol 12, Lufkin 20.

JV: Consol 69, Lufkin 40. AMC -- Eddens 14, Dickey 14, Henson 10.

Next: Consol will play Klein Collins at 3 p.m. Thursday in the first round of the Texas Invitational in Pasadena.