MOBILE, Ala.  – Texas State scored 30 points in the paint and outrebounded South Alabama by 12 en route to a 57-44 road win Saturday afternoon in Sun Belt Conference women's basketball action.
 
Four Bobcats (7-9, 2-3 Sun Belt) scored in double-figures with Ti'Aira Pitts totaling a near-career-high 13 points. Toshua Leavitt scored 12, while Taeler Deer notched 11 and Amber Jones added 10. The Bobcats controlled the paint throughout the game, outscoring their counterparts 30-24 inside and winning the battle on the glass 44-34. Texas State closed the game shooting 40.6 percent (26 of 64) overall, including 45.6 percent (21 of 46) from inside the arc.
 
South Alabama (7-9, 2-3 Sun Belt) was led by Colby Davis' 12 points. The Jaguars went 16 of 53 (30.2 percent) from the field and surrendered 15 points off 13 turnovers.
 
Texas State made 7 of its 17 first-quarter shots and outrebounded the Jaguars 14-7 on its way to a 15-9 lead after 10 minutes of action. Six Bobcats scored in the quarter, including points in the paint by De'Jionae Calloway, Pitts and Erin Peoples.
 
The Bobcats started the second quarter with three baskets inside to extend its lead to a then-game-high eight points at 21-14 with 5:54 showing on the first-half clock. Less than a minute later Deer scored her third bucket of the game, but the Bobcats would go scoreless over the ensuing 4:52. However, the visitors limited the Jaguars to only five points during the drought, while forcing three turnovers and collecting five defensive rebounds. Deer ended the scoreless streak with a 3-pointer with seven second to go in the half, sending the team into the intermission with Texas State up 26-20.
 
Texas State's shooting woes carried over into the third quarter as the Bobcats were held scoreless during for the first 3:30 as South Alabama closed its deficit to 26-24. Leavitt then scored on a driving layup, sparking a 6-2 run that included buckets by Pitts and Jones. South Alabama responded with four quick points and went on to outscore TXST 10-8 through the remainder of the quarter, trimming the Bobcats' lead to 40-36 with 10 minutes to play.
 
A Candice Williams free throw and Davis 3-pointer in the initial two minutes of the fourth cut the Bobcats' lead to 40-39. However, less than 30 seconds later Leavitt made her second three of the game, igniting an 11-0 run that put Texas State securely ahead at 51-39. Six of the run's points were scored inside via layups from Leavitt, Pitts and Jones.
 
South Alabama got no closer than nine the rest of the way as Texas State picked up its second Sun Belt win of the season and first away from San Marcos since late January of last year (Jan. 28 at Louisiana).
  • Texas State returns home to Strahan Coliseum next week for a pair of games against the Sun Belt Conference's Louisiana institutions. The Bobcats host ULM on Thursday (Jan. 19) at 7 p.m. and Louisiana on Saturday (Jan. 21) at 2 p.m.
  • The 2017 Sun Belt Conference Men's and Women's Basketball Championships are scheduled for a week of March Madness in the Big Easy.  New Orleans will once again be home to the two championships that will take place at Lakefront Arena from March 7-12 and ticket books can now be purchased from the Texas State ticket office.  For more information, visit the Sun Belt Conference's championship central websites - Men's Championship – Women's Championship – and be sure to follow the @FunBelt on social media - @SunBelt.