SAN MARCOS, Texas –  A 20-point game by Taeler Deer along with double-digit scoring efforts by Kaitlin Walla and Toshua Leavitt helped Texas State avenge an earlier loss to Troy as the Bobcats outlasted the Trojans 74-72 in Sun Belt play Saturday afternoon.
 
With the win, Texas State moved to 16-11 on the season and into a tie for third in the Sun Belt standing with an 11-5 record.  
 
Senior Erin Peoples played the last scheduled game of her career in Strahan Coliseum, finishing with four points, four rebounds, four steals and a block. She was honored on the floor prior to the contest.
 
Deer finished the game 6 of 12 from the floor and 7 of 10 at the free-throw line for her game-high 20 points. Walla scored 18, going 5 of 9 from the field and 5 of 8 at the line. Leavitt was 4 of 12 overall and co-led the Bobcats in rebounds along with Erick May with five each.
 
Caitlin Ramirez led Troy (18-9, 11-5 Sun Belt) with a 19-point, 12-rebound double-double. She was joined in double-figures by ArJae' Saunders and Amanda Mendoza with 16 and 14 points, respectively.
 
Texas State outshot the Trojans 43.5 percent (27 of 62) to 37.7 (23 of 61), outscored them 30-12 in the paint and turned 27 Troy turnovers into 24 points.
 
Troy led 14-11 after the first quarter, but Texas State used a 14-4 run over the final five minutes of the second quarter to take a 35-25 lead into the intermission. The Bobcats' second-quarter run was started by an old-fashioned 3-point play by Deer and included a fast break layup from Leavitt a Walla 3-pointer and two scores inside by Ti'Aira Pitts.
 
The Trojans opened the third quarter on a 14-4 run to tie the game at 39-39 with 5:33 showing on the clock. A Mendoza 3-pointer and Dajia Williams jumper pushed the Trojans in front 44-39 before TXST answered with an 8-2 scoring outburst to regain the lead a 47-46. The teams traded the lead four more time over the final 2:29 on the quarter, but five points from Walla and a free throw from Deer sent the game into the fourth with TXST leading 55-53.
 
The teams exchanged bucket in the early portion of the fourth before Troy tied the game a 63-63 on a Ramirez free throw with 6:01 to play. Saunders then scored on a scoop shot and after Leavitt answered for the Bobcats, Claresa Banks knocked down a 3-pointer to push the visitors ahead 68-65 at the 3:21 mark.
 
Texas State answered with two free throws each from Walla and Deer to regain the lead at 69-68, then Peoples scored inside and Deer followed with two more at the line for a 73-68 advantage with 1:14 to go. Saunders scored twice more, but it would not be enough as Texas State held on for a 74-72 win, making its 10th home victory of the season.


  • Texas State closes its 2016-17 regular season on the road at Louisiana and ULM on Thursday and Saturday, respectively. The Bobcats and Ragin' Cajuns are scheduled for a 5 p.m. opening tip, while the regular season finale at ULM tips at Noon.
  • 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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