Texas State Athletics

DALLAS – Texas State University women's basketball opened the 2016-17 season with a 64-56 setback at SMU Thursday morning inside Moody Coliseum in Dallas.

The Bobcats (0-1) limited SMU (1-0) to 29.2 percent (19-of-65) from the field but, the Mustangs' 21 points at the free-throw line proved to be the difference. SMU was 21-of-30 at the line, while the Bobcats, who shot 37.9 percent overall (22-of-58) attempted only six free throws, making five.

Sophomore point guard Toshua Leavitt led Texas State in scoring with 12 points on a career-high tying four made 3-pointers. McKinley Bostad, who made her Bobcat debut after sitting out last season due to NCAA Division I transfer policies, scored 11 and Ericka May posted a 10-point, 11-rebound double-double.

SMU received double-double performances from Alicia Froling (15 points/15 rebounds) and Dai'ja Thomas (10 points/11 rebounds), while Mikayla Reese finished with 11 points, including nine in the fourth quarter.

Leavitt's 3-pointer from the left wing provided Texas State's first points of the season and cut the early SMU lead to 4-3.  SMU built an 11-6 advantage through the middle stages of the first quarter, but Leavitt again hit from three, trimming the Mustang lead 11-9 at the 3:43 mark. A Kiara Perry 3-point play closed the scoring in the stanza and gave SMU a 14-9 lead.

Texas State scored first in the second quarter as Bostad converted a pair at the line. The Bobcats' defense would limit SMU to only a pair of field goal in the period, but the Mustangs' ability to get to the line – and make 6-of-8 attempts – kept the home team in front at the break. Trailing 20-13 in the quarter, Texas State pieced together a 6-0 run with Ti'Aira Pitts and May each scoring inside to bookend a pair of Taeler Deer free throws. However, SMU answered with a 5-0 run of its own before Deer provided the 25-21 halftime score on a fastbreak layup with eight seconds to go in the quarter.

Leavitt made a pair of threes and May again scored inside as Texas State used an 8-3 run in the opening minutes of the second half to take its first lead of the game at 29-28. The teams traded a pair of leads over the ensuing five minutes, but SMU took the advantage for good with a 7-0 run for a 42-35 lead. A Lurry jumper late in the final minute of the quarter sent the game to the fourth with SMU leading 42-37.

SMU's Reese made a pair of 3-points early in the fourth to stymie any Bobcat momentum that was building after a three by Bostad and jumper by May. Bostad made her second three of the quarter, pulling the Bobcats with two at 47-45 with 6:33 to play. However, SMU would allow the Bobcats no closer as the Mustangs hung on for the 64-56 win.

Texas State makes its Strahan Coliseum debut Tues., Nov. 15 against Incarnate Word. The opening tip is slated for 7:00 p.m. The Bobcats are a perfect 5-0 in home openers under Zenarae Antoine.