SAN MARCOS, Texas – A career-high 23 points by Kaitlin Walla as well as an overall balanced offensive attack led the Texas State women's basketball team to an 80-60 victory against Texas A&M-Commerce Sunday evening.
 
Texas State had three players in double-digits, two with nine points, and one with eight as well as several Bobcats having career nights in the victory.


 
How It Happened:
With just a six point lead at halftime, Texas State outscored the Lions 36-22 in the final 20 minutes of play to lift itself to its fourth victory of the season.
 
The first two quarters of play were a back-and-forth battle, as neither team could put together runs to get the game out of reach early. Just as the 'Cats took a four-point lead with 4:41 to play in the first after a jumper by Kiani Lurry, the Lions would storm back to force the fourth tie at that point as well as regain the lead in the closing minutes of the first.
 
A three by Walla granted the 'Cats the lead once again with 2:07 to play in the first period and a 10-3 run to close out the quarter put Texas State up six over the visiting Lions.
 
The six-point lead after the first period remained the same after 10 more minutes of action. The Lions clawed their way back into the contest throughout the quarter and they even took over the lead once again with 2:30 left before intermission. Back-to-back baskets by Leavitt as well as a steal on the Lions' next possession by the Nixa, Mo. native pushed Texas State into an 8-0 run to go into the half.
 
Texas A&M-Commerce made its final push to start the second half by tying up the game for the seventh time with 7:02 to play in the third. A 17-4 run by Texas State, capped by a Leavitt three, sent the 'Cats into the fourth with a comfortable lead over the Lions.
 
The Bobcats continued to build upon its lead throughout the fourth quarter. With 7:22 left in the game, Walla drained her fifth three-pointer of the day, which not only topped a career-high of made three's in a game, but put the redshirt sophomore into the 20+ point category for the first time in her career.
 
Texas State shot a season-high 56.9 percent from the floor as well as a season-high 47.6 percent from beyond the arc. The Bobcats maintained consistency throughout the game as each half the 'Cats shot over 50 percent from the floor. Texas State finished the day with 10 made three's, making that the third time this season it had achieved double-digit three's in a game.
 
Who Stood Out:
Kaitlin Walla recorded a career-high 23 points as well as a career-high five made three-pointers for Texas State … Ericka May notched a career-high 15 points as well as led the team with seven rebounds, five assists, and three steals … Toshua Leavitt picked up her third double-digit showing of her freshman campaign with 10 points … Leavitt made a pair of three's for the 'Cats to lift her to a team-high 17 made this season … Ti'Aira Pitts saw significant minutes for the 'Cats and she recorded her career-high of nine points … Kiani Lurry and Ayriel Anderson each contributed nine and eight points, respectively, to help lead the balanced attack of the Bobcats.
 
What It Means:
Texas State closes out its non-conference home slate with a perfect 4-0 record as it moves to 4-4 overall. The Bobcats will have two more non-conference contests against Houston Baptist and Missouri before returning home to start conference play against Georgia Southern.
 
Up Next:
The Bobcats hit the road Wednesday evening for a 7 p.m. tip-off against Southland Conference foe Houston Baptist. Texas State will then conclude the non-conference slate at Missouri on Dec. 21. That game will be broadcasted on the SEC Network +.