Leavitt and Lurry Lift Texas State Past Texas A&M-Corpus Christi

SAN MARCOS, Texas – Kiani Lurry made nine of 10 fourth quarter free throws and Toshua Leavitt broke a 50-50 tie with a 3-pointer, putting Texas State ahead for good with 2:03 to play as the Bobcats defeated Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 57-50 Friday evening inside Strahan Coliseum.

Leavitt tied her career-high with 16 points, including a career-high-tying four 3-pointers. Ti’Aira Pitts and Lurry each finished with nine points as Texas State improved its record to 2-1 on the young campaign. Ericka May led TXST with nine rebounds. The Bobcats finished the contest shooting 30.4 percent (17-of-56), but were able to rely on their defense as the Islanders were held the final 4:19 scoreless.

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi was led by Camesha Davis’ 13-point, 10-rebound double-double. The Islanders shot 38.0 percent (19-of-50) for the contest but were hindered by 15 turnovers and several long scoring droughts.

Texas State started cold in the first quarter, making only three shots and endured a pair of three-plus minute scoring droughts as Texas A&M-Corpus Christi built a 14-7 lead through 10 minutes of play.

The Islanders scored the first four points of the second period to expand its lead to double-digits at 18-7. A Bailey Holle free throw halted the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 6-0 run and sparked a 13-4 Bobcats scoring streak that was capped by a Leavitt three from the right corner at the 3:01 mark. TAMU-CC’s Tiara Matthews answered on the other end, but a layup by McKinley Bostad and a jumper from Whitney Apari after a steal by Pitts knotted the game at 24 with 1:41 to go before the intermission.

Pitts made a pair at the line to give the Bobcats’ their first lead of the game. However, the lead would not last long as TAMU-CC’s Brianna Jackson knocked down a 3-pointer on the ensuing possession. Leavitt answered with an NBA-range trey of her own and closed the scoring in the half with a fast break layup after Taeler Deer forced the Islanders’ eighth turnover of the evening.

Scoring proved hard to come by in the third quarter as the teams exchanged only two free throws through the first five minutes of play. After the under-5 media timeout, the Islanders’ Davis scored two quick buckets from close range to give the visitors a 35-33 lead. Leavitt again answered with a 3-pointer on the next possession, but Texas A&M-Corpus Christi used 3-pointers by Jackson and Kassie Jones along with a score in the paint from Ashanti Plummer to outscore the Bobcats 8-3 during the remainder of the quarter and take a 43-39 lead.

With Texas A&M-Corpus Christi leading 48-43 and 5:37 to play in regulation Lurry went to the free-throw line for the first time. She would go to the line eight more times in the next 3:32, making seven to single-handily keep pace with the Islanders. She spilt two free throws with 2:03 to go, tying the game at 50. Two possessions late Leavitt put the Bobcats up for good with her fourth three of the game.

Texas state concludes its three-game home stand with a Sunday matinee against Texas Southern. Tipoff against the 1-1 Tigers is set for 2 p.m.