Bobcats Grind Out Fourth Straight Win

BOONE, N.C. – Texas State University women’s basketball picked up its fourth straight win with its 53-37 defeat of Appalachian State Thursday evening in Sun Belt Conference action.

The Bobcats, who improved to 10-9 on the season and 5-3 in Sun Belt play, relied heavily on its league-leading defense to limit the Mountaineers to 37 points on 56 shot attempts (11 of 56 FG, 1 of 17 3FG).

Texas State’s balanced offensive output was led by McKinley Bostad with nine points, while Amber Jones, Taeler Deer and Kaitlin Walla each finished with eight. The Bobcats finished the game shooting 34.5 percent (19 of 55) and outscored the Mountaineers 30-10 in the paint and 33-8 off the bench.

Appalachian State (8-11, 3-5 Sun Belt) was paced by Madi Story’s 10-point, 10-rebound double-double. Joi Jones also scored 10 points and Bayley Plummer equaled Story with 10 rebounds. The Mountaineers outrebounded Texas State 50-38 but converted only 14 second-chance points on 19 offensive boards.

Texas State led 9-6 after the first 10 minutes of play. Neither team was able to establish an offensive rhythm as both teams went on extended scoreless streaks. The Mountaineers led 4-2 on a bucket by Story at the 6:51 mark, but were held scoreless over the next 6:47 as the Bobcats built their first-quarter lead.

Both teams shooting woes continued into the second quarter as the teams combined for nine field goals in the period. Appalachian State scored its three buckets in the first 3:40, taking a 14-13 lead.

However, Texas State would limit the Mountaineers to only two free throw the rest of the first half, while scoring 10 points of its own for a 23-16 halftime lead.

The Bobcats’ 10-2 run was ignited with a 3-point play by Jones and continued as Bostad scored on a fastbreak layup, then a mid-range jumper. Zandra Emanuel capped the run with a 3-point play of her own after an offensive rebound.

Appalachian State outscored Texas State 12-11 in the third quarter, trimming the Bobcats’ lead to six at 34-28 entering the fourth. Eight of the Mountaineers’ points in the period came at the free-throw line, while Texas State scored eight of its points on field goals.

Bostad staked Texas State its then-largest lead of the game at 39-30 as the redshirt sophomore converted an and-1 off an assist by Deer, following a defensive rebound by May.

App. State’s Story answered with a score inside, but neither team would score over the next two minutes until Walla broke the game open with back-to-back 3-pointers, pushing the Bobcats ahead 45-32 with 3:36 to go.

The Mountaineers got no closer than 12 the rest of the way as Texas State secured its fourth road win of the season.

Up Next

• Texas State continues its road swing Saturday at Sun Belt newcomer Coastal Carolina. Tipoff from the Chanticleers’ HTC Center is scheduled for Noon (CT). Texas State defeated Coastal 83-62 in the programs’ first meeting back on Dec. 29, 2016.

Sun Belt Conference Championship

• The 2017 Sun Belt Conference Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships are scheduled for a week of March Madness in the Big Easy.  New Orleans will once again be home to the two championships ­that will take place at Lakefront Arena from March 7-12 and ticket books can now be purchased from the Texas State ticket office.  For more information, visit the Sun Belt Conference’s championship central websites – Men’s Championship – Women’s Championship – and be sure to follow the @FunBelt on social media – @SunBelt.