SAN MARCOS, Texas – Toshua Leavitt connected on five 3-pointers on her way to scoring a game-high 17 points in leading Texas State to a 55-39 win over South Alabama Thursday evening in Sun Belt Conference women's basketball action.
 
Leavitt, who has made five or more threes in three consecutive games, is now tied for fourth with Diamond Ford (2012-13) on the Texas State single-season 3-point field goal made list with 63.
 
Texas State (15-11, 10-5 Sun Belt) finished the contest shooting 38.6 percent (22 of 57) from the floor, outscored South Alabama 22-18 in the paint and converted 15 points off 18 Jaguar turnovers.
 
No South Alabama (9-17, 4-11 Sun Belt) player reached double-figures as Candice Williams finished as the Jaguars' top scorer with nine. The Bobcats' top-ranked league defense limited South Alabama to 14 of 51 shooting (27.5 percent), including 3 of 18 from beyond the arc.
 
Texas State led 14-11 after the first quarter. Both teams shot 5 of 13 in the stanza and endured three-plus minute scoring droughts.
 
Leavitt made a pair of 3-pointers and connected on a floater to score eight of the Bobcats' 12 second-quarter points, pushing the home team to a 26-18 halftime advantage. The Bobcats limited South Alabama to 14.3 percent from the floor in the quarter as the Jaguars only points came by way of 3-pointers from Erin Autio and Genesis Perrymond along with a single India Hall free throw.
 
South Alabama scored the first four points of the second half to trim the Bobcats' lead to 26-22; however, Leavitt answered with her fourth trey of the game and Ti'Aira Pitts followed with a score inside to slow the Jaguar momentum. Texas State later stretched its lead to 12 at 39-27 after Taeler Deer scored on a 15-foot jumper and Leavitt followed a possession later with her fifth triple of the night. USA's LaNeetra Guillory closed the quarters' scoring with a layup in the final minute to send the game into the fourth with the Bobcats leading 39-29.
 
Erin Peoples and Deer scored two quick baskets in the opening 1:09 of the fourth quarter to stake TXST its then-largest lead of the game at 43-29. The Bobcats extended its lead to 15 at 46-29 on a Pitts layup before South Alabama scored its first point of the quarter. The Bobcats then scored four of the game's next six points and South Alabama would got no closer than 14 the rest of the way as Texas State scored its ninth home win of the season.
 
  • Texas State closes its 2016-17 regular season home schedule Saturday (Feb. 25) at 2 p.m. against Troy. Prior to the contest senior Erin Peoples will be honored for her commitment and contributions to Texas State women's basketball.
  • 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.
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