Texas Southern Downs Bobcats

SAN MARCOS, Texas – Texas State was unable to contain a hot-shooting Texas Southern team as the Tigers shot 50.9 percent overall, including 52.0 percent in the second half, to defeat the Bobcats 66-53 in a Sunday matinee at Strahan Coliseum.

Texas Southern (2-1) converted 27 of its 53 shot attempts, including 5-of-10 from three, for its season-best shooting percentage. The Tigers, which were led by Joyce Kennerson and Kaitlin Palmer with 15 and 16 points, respectively, scored 32 of their points in the paint and 14 off Bobcat turnovers.

Texas State was paced for the third time this season by Toshua Leavitt’s 11 points. Leavitt was 4-of-7 from the field with three 3-pointers. The Bobcats shot 44.4 percent in the first half, but cooled off after halftime to finish the contest with a 36.1 shooting percentage (22-of-61).

Texas Southern expanded its lead to 16 points (60-44) with a 9-2 run to open the fourth period. The Bobcats then reeled off seven straight with Ericka May converting a fast break layup, McKinley Bostad making a pair at the line and freshman Brooke Holle knocking down her first career 3-pointer, cutting the Tiger lead to nine. However, after exchanging layups with just over three minutes to play the Bobcats would get no closer as Texas Southern went on to win 66-53.

Texas Southern used a 53.3 shooting percentage to take an 18-13 lead after the opening 10 minutes of play. The Bobcats also shot well in the quarter, making six of their 14 attempts, including a 3-pointer by Leavitt. Both teams utilized their inside games with each counting 10 points in the paint.

Texas State erased its five-point deficit with a 10-4 run in first four minutes of the second quarter and took a 23-22 lead. The Tigers regained a 28-25 lead on a Chyna Ewing layup at the 3:18 mark, but Kiani Lurry would tie the game for the fourth time as she knocked down a triple from the left corner. Texas Southern would score the final four points of the stanza via two free throw and a Artavia Ford jumper to take a 32-28 lead into the intermission.

The Bobcats twice pulled within a point of Texas Southern in the initial 3:30 of the second half, but each time the Tigers’ Kennerson answered with a bucket. The second of such instances gave the Tigers a 41-38 lead and sparked a 12-4 run that gave the visitors a 51-42 advantage after three quarters of play.