Bobcats Tame Tigers

Texas State closed out the four-game road trip to begin the 2017-18 campaign with a record of 3-1.

HOUSTON, Texas – The Texas State women’s basketball team secured its third victory of the season with a 70-56 victory over Texas Southern on Tuesday evening inside the H&PE Arena.

After yielding 20 points to the Texas Southern (0-3) in the first quarter, the Texas State (3-1) defense buckled down and made stops. The Tigers scored just 10 points in the second quarter, which allowed the Bobcats to jump out to a 40-30 lead at the break. After being outscored 17-16 in the third quarter, the game was still a tossup heading into the final stanza. Once again, the Bobcat defense was up to the challenge, holding the Tigers to just nine points in the final 10 minutes to secure the win.

Texas Southern committed 20 turnovers in the contest, marking the second time in four games that a TXST opponent has coughed the ball up at least 20 times in a game. The Bobcats also forced Texas Tech into 20 turnovers in the season-opening win over the Lady Raiders. Texas State was able to cash in the mistakes, turning the extra possessions into 25 points. The Bobcats outscored the Tigers in points off of turnovers, 25-11.

For the third time this season, TXST knocked down at least 10 3-point attempts. The long range shot has been a staple in head coach Zenarae Antoine’s offenses for many years, and this season in no different. Texas State converted 12-of-23 shots from deep, outscoring Texas Southern 36-15 from behind the 3-point line.

Junior Toshua Leavitt led the way for the Bobcats, netting a career-high 24 points, 18 came in the first half. She caught fire in the second quarter, scoring 11 points in the frame, including a trio of shots from behind the arc. She connected on 6-of-10 shots from deep and has now scored 20 or more points in two games this season. Taeler Deer added 15 points and Brooke Holle chipped in 13 points, giving TXST a trio of players with double-figures in the scorebook.

Texas Southern came into the contest as a tremendous rebounding team, but the Bobcats were able to neutralize the Tigers on the glass and were only outrebounded by one. Zelor Massaquoi paced TXST on the boards, hauling down six rebounds in 20 minutes off of the bench.

Joyce Kennerson was a thorn in the side of the Bobcat defense, scoring a career-high 33 points in the loss. She made 12-of-21 shot attempts on her way to leading all scorers. Fortunately, Texas State was able to limit the damage from her teammates, as the rest of the Tiger squad tallied just 23 points on 10-of-32 shooting.

Texas State closed out the four-game road trip to begin the 2017-18 campaign with a record of 3-1. TXST will be back in Strahan Coliseum for the first time this season with a tilt against the Fresno State Bulldogs. Tip is scheduled for a 4 p.m. start on Nov. 25. The game will mark the first of four consecutive games in San Marcos.

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