CANCUN, Mexico – The Texas State women's basketball team fell in the final game of the Cancun Challenge to No. 12 Duke by a score of 85-34 Saturday afternoon. Duke, a team who made it to the NCAA Sweet 16 just a year ago, is 5-1 this season.
 
At the conclusion of the tournament, redshirt sophomore guard Kaitlin Walla was named to the Cancun Challenge All-Tournament Team. Walla finished the tournament with 28 points as well as 10 rebounds and four steals. Against Idaho, she scored a team-high 14 points, marking a season-high for her.
 

Congrats to @kaitwalla for being named to the @CancunChallenge All-Tournament Team! #eatemupcats #cancunhoops pic.twitter.com/VVNcPUBNYu

— Texas State WBB (@TXStateWBB) November 28, 2015

How It Happened:
After Walla drained a three for the first score of the ball game, the No. 12 Blue Devils built up a 20-point lead in the first quarter of play. The size of Duke, the fourth tallest in school history, proved to be too much to overcome after the early lead was built up.
 
Texas State continued to battle as the game progressed including improvement on offensive possessions. After 17 turnovers combined in the first two quarters of play, the Bobcats improved by giving up just two in the third and two in the fourth. Duke continued to apply the full-court press until the final moments of play and the Bobcats adjusted to the pressure.
 
The Bobcats scored 13 points in the third and 10 points in the fourth. Toshua Leavitt came alive for the 'Cats offensively as she drained three, three-pointers in the game. Leavitt made at least two three's in every game this tournament including at least three in the last two games.
 
Whitney Apari, who earned her first collegiate start Saturday afternoon, finished with five points. Leavitt led the Bobcats with nine and Walla also contributed five points. Taeler Deer led the 'Cats with four steals and the Bobcat defense forced 15 turnovers.
 
What It Means:
Texas State falls to 2-4 on the year as they return home for the I-35 rivalry game against UTSA next week. The 'Cats finished 0-3 at the Cancun Challenge, but went up against stiff competition in No. 12 Duke, Idaho, a team that lost to Duke by just six, and Big 12 foe Iowa State.
 
Up Next:
The Bobcats will return home to Strahan Coliseum for the next two games, beginning with UTSA on Dec. 3. Last season, eight straight points in the final 44 seconds by guard Ayriel Anderson lifted the Bobcats to a 57-53 victory over the Roadrunners. In the final moments of the game, the Bobcats found themselves down as many as seven before producing an 11-0 run to defeat UTSA.