TX State Women’s Basketball To Face Test Against Conference Leader

By: Donavan Jackson

The Texas State women’s basketball team finished 2-1 on a three-game road trip and will host conference leader Arkansas-Little Rock Thursday at Strahan Coliseum.

“They’re an excellent team,” Coach Zenarae Antoine said. “You always hear coaches say you don’t have to motivate your team for games like this.”

Arkansas-Little Rock sits atop the Sun Belt conference at 3-0 after defeating South Alabama in its fourth consecutive win. 

The Bobcats, picked third in the preseason poll, have an opportunity to test their comfort level in a game with a high excitement level.

“There’s an excitement level, period,” Antoine said. “It’s more of a gauge to test the team, and that’s exciting for them. That’s what’s different.”

Arkansas-Little Rock, picked second in the pre-season poll, is 10-2 on the season and is led by senior guard Taylor Gault. 

Gault was named Sun Belt All-Conference First Team last season and has continued to perform well for the Trojans early in conference play. The senior guard, seventh in scoring in the Sun Belt conference, developed her 3-point shot during the offseason. 

“Taylor Gault has expanded her game,” Antoine said. “She’s not just a mid-range jump shooter (and) slasher anymore.”

The Bobcat’s offense seems to be clicking, but the team sits fifth in scoring offense and second in 3-point field goal percentage. Antoine admits the defense is not where it needs to be in order to compete for a championship.

Erin Peoples, junior guard, and Jacqueline Jeffcoat, senior forward, have given consistent performances offensively and defensively. Antoine has also gotten positive production from the bench.

Raven Burns, junior guard; Ti’Aira Pitts, freshman forward, and Taeler Deer, freshman guard, received more playing time during the three-game road trip.

“In the minutes that they have played recently in these little spurts of playing time, their production level has been high.” Antoine said. “I think it’s important that I continue to trust our kids and let them play freely, so I’m pretty happy where we are offensively.”

The Texas State offense will have its hands full with the Trojans’ defense, which is ranked second in the conference in scoring defense and first in turnover margin. 

Arkansas-Little Rock coach Joe Foley is known for his defensive teams, which have racked up multiple NCAA tournament bids during his tenure.

Heading into a game with the opportunity to knock off the top team in the conference will be a challenge for the Bobcats. Antoine said she is approaching the game like any other.

“I feel well prepared for the game, and I feel confident about our game plan,” Peoples said. “It’s going to be a good competition, but I’m excited and feel we’ll come out with the victory.”

Donavan Jackson is a sports reporter for the University Star where this story originally published and is reprinted here through a news partnership.