Bobcats Cage The Red Wolves
“We knew it would take more than one player to replace Brooke Holle in this game, and we received contributions from a number of players…”
Jonesboro, Ark. – The Texas State women’s basketball team (11-5, 4-1 SBC) earned its third straight conference victory, defeating Arkansas State (8-8, 3-2 SBC), 67-55, on Thursday evening inside of the First National Bank Arena. The victory improves Texas State’s record to 3-1 in the Sun Belt Conference.
“Without one of our starters, I thought our team stepped up in a big way,” head coach Zenarae Antoine said. “We knew it would take more than one player to replace Brooke Holle in this game, and we received contributions from a number of players. Zelor Massaquoi brought so much energy to this game, I think that made a huge difference. This was a tough, tough win and I am proud of these girls.”
The start of the game was far from ideal for the Bobcats. Bailey Holle, earning her second start of the season, scored the first bucket of the game for TXST at the 6:41 mark of the first quarter. The next four points scored by the visiting team came via Dabrasia Baty. The Bobcats trailed at the end of the first quarter by a score of 12-6.
In the second quarter, Texas State gained some traction, outscoring the Red Wolves 19-11. Both Taeler Deer and Toshua Leavitt found a rhythm in the second frame, combining to score 13 of the team’s 19 points. The Bobcats took a narrow two-point lead into the break, 25-23. TXST would not relinquish the lead for the remainder of the contest, improving its record to 11-0 in games in which the Bobcats held a halftime lead.
Leavitt continued her hot-shooting streak in the third quarter, netting 10 of the Bobcat’s 18 points in the frame. The junior guard knocked down four more 3-pointers in the contest, giving her 73 makes on the season. She now stands just six triples behind the school-record of 196 career-makes. Leavitt finished the game with 16 points.
Deer led the Bobcats in scoring, tallying a game-high 24 points, including 15 points in the fourth quarter alone. The senior guard also posted six rebounds, four on the offensive end of the floor, and five steals. It is the third time that Deer has topped 20 points in a game this season.
Ericka May was tenacious on the glass, ripping down a team-high 14 rebounds. She also grabbed 14 rebounds in Texas State’s game against the Houston Cougars earlier this season. May also chipped in 11 points, giving her another double-double. She has registered double-doubles in three games this season, including back-to-back contests.
Against the Troy Trojans on Jan. 6, Texas State was badly outrebounded. Against the Red Wolves, the Bobcats righted the ship, outrebounding the home team 41-38. TXST yanked down 14 boards on the offensive end which led to 18 second chance points. Texas State outscored Arkansas State 18-8 off of offensive rebounds.
As has been the case most of the 2017-18 campaign, the Bobcats held the upper hand in the 3-point shooting category. Texas State sank seven triples, while holding Arkansas State without a made 3-point field goal in the game.
The Bobcats square off with the Little Rock Trojans on Jan. 13. The Trojans have posted a record of 34-2 in its last 36 regular season Sun Belt Conference games. Both losses have been to the Bobcats. Game two of the Arkansas trip will tip at 3 p.m. at Jack Stephens Center in Little Rock, Ark.
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