SAN MARCOS, Texas — The Texas State women's basketball team opened its two-game weekend slate against ULM in dominating fashion to halt a three-game losing streak as the Bobcats won, 74-52, Friday afternoon. 

"I really liked how our team and coaching staff utilized this past week," said Texas State head coach Zenarae Antoine. "Due to COVID-19 (within the Little Rock program) we had to sit out last weekend, so we thought it was a good idea to allow the young women time to decompress but at the same time work on areas of our game we've struggled in.

"Knowing we've been struggling against the zone (defense) and ULM would run it a lot, I was really proud of how the team handled it. Defensively, I thought they really picked it up as well after hitting some adversity throughout the game."

The adversity for Texas State (5-5, 2-3) came early in the third quarter as ULM (2-9, 0-5) chipped away at its 37-32 halftime deficit and eventually took a 46-44 lead at the 5:04 mark in the third quarter following a Morgan Hill second-chance layup off a missed Kierra Crockett free throw. It gave the Warhawks its first lead of the game leading 3-0 following a Kierra Brimzy turnaround jumper less than two minutes into the game. 

The productivity on both ends of the court didn't stop after Texas State took the lead on one of Kennedy Taylor's game-high four 3-point baskets.

Just like when it fell behind in the first quarter and Texas State responded with a huge 12-0 run to take the lead, the Bobcats did much of the same in the third quarter. But this time, TXST didn't stop at a 12-0 run as this time the Bobcats reeled off an 18-0 run that spanned the last 3:38 of the third to 8:15 in the fourth. 

By the 6:07 mark in the final period, Texas State had made it a 20-1 run, and then eventually it ballooned to 28-6 over the final 15 minutes of the game. 

"I really stressed — coming out of halftime — that we needed to do more of what we did in the first quarter," Antoine said. "We didn't do it for the first five minutes of the third, but then we had a conversation during a timeout. We were able to get some rebounds — that were really critical — and we were able to push in transition."  

Taylor's four 3-pointers sparked an 18-point, 7-rebound, 6-assist performance to coincide with Da'Nasia Hood's 23 points and Lauryn Thompson's 12 on 5-of-8 shooting. Tianna Eaton nearly joined the trio in double figures as the transfer finished with nine points and nine rebounds off the bench. 

The two teams will square off, again, on Saturday, Jan. 23 at 4 p.m. to wrap up the weekend series.