SAN MARCOS, TX — An eight-point scoring differential during the third quarter in favor of the home team gave the Texas State women's basketball program enough breathing room to weather late fourth-quarter pushes from Arkansas State and seal an 84-75 victory Thursday night.
Entering the third quarter trailing the Red Wolves (11-15, 4-9), 38-37,
Lauryn Thompson took a
Ja'Kayla Bowie pass and converted a layup attempt less than 47 seconds into the quarter to give the Bobcats (14-12, 9-5) its first lead since 2:23 remained in the second quarter.
Moments later,
Da'Nasia Hood gave Texas State its largest lead (3) since the 1:52 mark in the first quarter when took a Thompson pass and made a layup opportunity.
Arkansas State's Mya Love tried to halt the forthcoming Texas State scoring run with a jump, but the Bobcats turned its one-point halftime deficit to a 12-point third-quarter lead following a pair of free throws from
Jaeda Reed at the midway mark of the third. Reed's free throws capped a 17-4 scoring run for Texas State to start the second half.
The Red Wolves tried to chip away in the late stages of the third period, but a pair of Hood free throws sent the game into the fourth quarter with Texas State holding a seven-point advantage. Hood and
Tianna Eaton opened the game's final frame with a quick five-point scoring to make it 70-58.
But Arkansas State never got closer than four — 77-73 with 1:59 left — the rest of the way.
FROM HEAD COACH ZENARAE ANTOINE
"I think all wins are good wins. I was pretty disappointed in our defense. The team can tell you that in the first half. I was more than disappointed; I was angry, heated, and hot. I felt we did a pretty job, defensively, as the game progressed and that's what we are looking for. Our defense needs to carry us into the conference tournament, so those are some things we are focusing on right now."
STAT LEADERS
SCORES BY QUARTER
- 1st | Arkansas State 25, Texas State 21
- 2nd | Arkansas State 38, Texas State 37
- 3rd | Texas State 65, Arkansas State 58
- 4th | Texas State 84, Arkansas State 75
GAME NOTES
- With her 25-point performance Thursday night, Texas State forward Da'Nasia Hood has now tied UTA's Starr Jacobs for the most 20-plus point games (11) throughout the 2021-22 regular season. Of those 11 games by each student-athlete, Hood has reached the 20-plus point mark nine times against a conference foe, while Jacobs has done so only seven.
- With her two steals against the Red Wolves, Texas State senior guard Kennedy Taylor has tied Yolunda Oatis (1991-93) for fifth on the program's career steals list with 185.
- And with her five assists Thursday evening, Texas State senior guard Kennedy Taylor will enter Saturday afternoon's regular-season finale with 169 assists on the season, one shy of tying her 2019-20 season total on the program's single-season assist list.
- Thursday night marked the first time this season all five Texas State starters finished the game with double-digit points.
UP NEXT
- Texas State will wrap up its 2021-22 regular season on Saturday, Feb. 26, when the Bobcats play Little Rock inside Strahan Arena at 2 p.m. CT.
- For the latest information on the team, follow @TXStateWBB on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. General athletic news can also be at @TxStateBobcats on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
