Leavitt’s Threes Lead Texas State Past ULM

SAN MARCOS, Texas – Toshua Leavitt made five 3-pointers as she totaled a career-high 19 points in leading Texas State to a 63-50 victory over visiting University of Lousiana Monroe in Sun Belt women’s basketball action Thursday evening.

Leavitt finished the game 6 of 12 from the floor, including 5 of 10 from deep to surpass her previous career-high of 16 (achieved twice).

Ti’Aira Pitts was the Bobcats’ second-leading scorer with nine, while Taeler Deer and Kaitlin Walla each added eight. Deer also set a career-high as she dished out 11 assists.

Ericka May led TXST on the boards with 10 as the Bobcats outrebounded ULM 44-38. Texas State closed the game shooting 32.3 percent (21 of 65) from the floor, 8 of 24 from 3-point range and 13 of 16 at the free-throw line.

ULM (4-13, 1-5 Sun Belt) was led offensively by Alexis Collins and Gabriella Cortez with 15 and 14 points, respectively. The Warhawks shot 30.4 percent (14 of 46), including 3 of 16 from three.

Texas State, which improved to 8-9 overall and 3-3 in conference play with the win, outscored ULM 22-20 in the paint and turned 21 Warhawk turnovers into 23 points.

The bobcats led 15-7 after 10 minutes of play as Leavitt scored eight points on two 3-pointers and a mid-range jumper. The Bobcats outrebounded the Warhawks 14-12 in the quarter, including three offensive boards by Amber Jones.

Texas State extended its lead to 19-7 in the opening minutes of the second quarter, but a quick 5-0 run by ULM left the Bobcats ahead 19-12 with 5:55 showing on the clock.

Texas State answered with two baskets inside by De’Jionae Calloway, sparking a 13-4 run to end the half.

The run, which ended with TXST leading 32-16 at the intermission, featured six total points by Calloway and five by Pitts while the defense held ULM scoreless for four-plus minutes and forced four turnovers. 

Leavitt sank her third 3-pointer of the game and 30th of the season to cap a 7-0 run midway through the third quarter and give the Bobcats their first 20-point lead of the contest at 43-23.

Two free throws by Jones and a layup by McKinley Bostad pushed TXST ahead 47-25, but the Bobcats would not score over the final 4:40 of the quarter as ULM pieced together a 9-0 run.

The Warhawks’ run was initiated by a 3-pointer by Lauren Marker and continued by a combined six free throws from four different players as ULM trimmed their deficit after 30 minutes of play to 47-34.

Leavitt made her career-high-tying fourth 3-pointer less than a minute into the fourth, breaking the Bobcats’ near five minutes scoring drought.

Kaitlin Walla sank two 3-pointers of her own as the Bobcats outscored the Warhawks 9-3 in through the first five minutes of the fourth.

ULM would make a final push, scoring six straight at the free-throw line, but Texas State would counter with four free throws and another Leavitt triple down the stretch to secure the 63-50 victory.