ATLANTA – The Texas State women's basketball team overcame an early 12-point deficit in the first quarter, but struggled to hang on as Georgia State defeated the Bobcats 73-62 Thursday evening at the GSU Sports Arena. Senior guard Raven Burns made a career-high five 3-pointers and scored a career-high 18 points in the Bobcat's setback.
 
How It Happened:
Georgia State used the first two and a half minutes to take an early 9-0 lead over Texas State. The Panther lead continued to grow to as many as 12 with 2:49 on the clock before a jumper by Taeler Deer sparked a 7-0 Texas State run to cut that Panther lead down to seven at the first quarter break of the game.
 
The second quarter belonged to the Bobcats. In just over four minutes into the quarter, Texas State tied up the contest at 21-all. The teams would go on to alternate the next few baskets before a pair of free throws by Deer ignited a 5-2 Texas State run capped by a 3-pointer by Burns to put Texas State up five, 30-25, with 2:32 to play before intermission.
 
A pair of jumpers by Georgia State brought the hosts within one, but another trey by Burns and a free throw by Kiani Lurry with 24 seconds on the clock granted Texas State a five-point, 34-29, halftime lead.
 
The third quarter fell in favor of the Panthers as Texas State quickly found itself in foul trouble with seven minutes to play in the period. The Panthers made 17 trips to the charity stripe to go on and outscore the Bobcats 26-20 in the third, therefore taking a one-point, 55-54, lead with 10 minutes to play.
 
The momentum from the third quarter carried its way into the fourth for Georgia State. After Texas State forced a turnover and turned it into a basket by Ayriel Anderson on the opening possession of the quarter, Georgia State produced a 14-4 run to take a nine-point lead. In the final eight minutes of play, Texas State was held scoreless from the floor. Of the eight points scored in the final quarter, four of them came from the charity stripe for Texas State.
 
The Bobcats finished the night going 13-for-16 from the line with nine made 3's in the game. Georgia State won the rebounding battle, 53-32, and outshot Texas State 40.9-30.8 percent from the floor. The 'Cats finished the day making nine 3-pointers at a clip of 32.1 percent.
 
Who Stood Out:
Raven Burns finished the night with a career-high five made 3's and 18 points … Ericka May recorded a floor-high 11 rebounds, marking the sixth time this season and 10^th in her career to record double-digit boards … Taeler Deer and Toshua Leavitt scored in double-figures for the 'Cats with 11 and 10 points, respectively … Ayriel Anderson led the team with five assists … De'Jionae Calloway recorded a block, two steals, and went 5-for-6 from the line.
 
What It Means:
The Bobcats fall to 10-10 on the year and 5-5 in Sun Belt Conference play. The loss at Georgia State marks the third-straight defeat at the GSU Sports Arena. The Panthers and the Bobcats have split the series this season and ever since the Bobcats joined the Sun Belt Conference in 2013, the home team has always won this match-up.
 
Up Next:
Texas State will conclude the Georgia road trip Saturday afternoon with a 3:30 p.m. CT contest against Georgia Southern. The Bobcats won the first match-up of the year over the Eagles back on Dec. 30 at Strahan Coliseum. Live stats and live audio will be available at www.txstatebobcats.com.