DELAND, Fla. – The Texas State women's basketball team (7-4) dropped its second consecutive contest for the first time this season, losing to Stetson (8-6), 61-54, on Thursday afternoon in the team's final game from the Hatter Classic inside the Edmunds Center.

"I was proud of the way the team battled back once again," said head coach Zenarae Antoine. "We got down eight points or so in the second half and this team had no quit in them. Hopefully next time out we are not putting ourselves in a spot to have to rally late, but it is good to see the team scrap and claw their way back into a game."

For the second time in as many days, the Bobcats dug themselves into a hole early in the game. After jumping out to 10-0 start, Texas State allowed the Hatters to score 16 of the last 21 points of the first frame to take a one-point lead at the quarter break. Toshua Leavitt buried a pair of threes in the second quarter, pushing the Bobcats out ahead. However, the lead did not last long as Stetson once again closed the half on an extended team run. The Hatters carried a 34-28 lead into the halftime break.  

After playing a back-and-forth third frame, TXST saw a five-point deficit heading into the final stanza. Texas State mounted a furious comeback, erasing an eight-point Hatter lead in the fourth quarter to take the lead 52-51 on a Brooke Holle free throw with 5:04 left in the game.

Stetson's Sydney Wagner knocked down a corner 3-pointer to put the Stetson back in front by a couple of points with 3:16 to go. Leavitt connected on a running floater with 2:42 left in the game to tie the score at 54. Unfortunately, the Bobcats were unable to find the bottom of the net for the remainder of the contest.

A defensive breakdown led to another open 3-point look for Wagner, who came up big once again for Stetson. She canned the triple with 1:32 left in the fourth, giving the Hatters a 57-54 lead. A McKenna Beach layup and a pair of free throws from Brittney Chambers sealed the game for the host Stetson Hatters, 61-54.

Offensively, Taeler Deer was the high-point scorer for the Bobcats, netting 15 points. The senior guard scored five of Texas State's first 10 points of the game and finished the afternoon shooting 6-of-12 from the floor. Deer also matched Ericka May for the team lead with seven boards. Leavitt, who came off the bench for the first time this season, scored 13 points on 4-of-14 shooting. Brooke Holle finished the game with 12 points while pulling down four rebounds.

After averaging 11.5 points and five rebounds in the two games from the Hatter Classic, Brooke Holle was named to the All-Tournament Team.

Sun Belt Conference basketball begins the next time Texas State takes the court, as the Bobcats open up the 18-game conference slate on the road. TXST will face Appalachian State on Dec. 29 at 5:00 p.m. EDT and Coastal Carolina on Dec. 31 at 1:00 p.m. EDT.

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