SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State women's basketball defense was on showcase on Saturday against ULM as it forced 24 turnovers, registered 15 steals, and forced the Warhawks to shoot 34.5 percent from the field to lead the Bobcats to a 74-56 win in Strahan Arena.
 
The Bobcats (16-7, 8-4 Sun Belt) scored 33 points off turnovers by ULM (7-16, 3-9 Sun Belt) to help pull out their sixth win in the last eight games. The victory also gave Texas State its 12th home win of the season, its most in a campaign in 14 years.
 
Da'Nasia Hood recorded a double-double for the second game in a row, scoring 18 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. The graduate student was 7-of-14 from the field, including 2-of-3 from three-point range, and also recorded a season-high four steals.
 
Kennedy Taylor added 15 points on 4-of-8 shooting and handed out four assists. The graduate student was a perfect 7-of-7 at the free throw line.
 
Powered by Hood and Taylor's 50 percent shooting, Texas State shot 46.4 percent from the field (26-of-56). It was also 17-of-21 from the free throw line to help it score 70+ points for the second straight game.
 
Ja'Kayla Bowie also reached double-digits in scoring for the fourth game in a row with 10 points.
 
The Bobcats led for 38 minutes and 15 seconds and led by as much as 22 in the fourth quarter.
 
Texas State's defense held ULM to only one field goal in the fourth quarter as the Warhawks finished 1-of-9 shooting in the final 10 minutes. The lone basket was a jump shot with seven seconds remaining in the game.
 
The Bobcats finished with 15 steals, their most since the season opener in November, while four different players had multiple steals. Taylor and Hood led the way with four apiece while Taelour Pruitt and Bowie added three and two, respectively.
 
FROM HEAD COACH ZENARAE ANTOINE
"You cannot take one second off or take anything for granted in this conference and this team showed a lot of maturity, and a lot of resilience. (The Texas State players) were challenged in this game and by me. At the end we got to a good place where we could get some other players the opportunity to play which is really exciting for them, probably more so than me."
 
STAT LEADERS

• Points – Da'Nasia Hood (18)
• Rebounds – Da'Nasia Hood (10)
• Assists – Kennedy Taylor, Taelour Pruitt (4)
• Steals – Kennedy Taylor, Da'Nasia Hood (4)
• Blocks – Ja'Kayla Bowie, Tianna Eaton (1)

 
SCORES BY QUARTER
1st | Texas State 20, ULM 14
2nd | Texas State 37, ULM 27
3rd | Texas State 57, ULM 46
4th | Texas State 74, ULM 56
 
GAME NOTES

• The Bobcats are tied for second in the Sun Belt standings with an 8-4 conference record. Texas State is tied for second with James Madison, Southern Miss and Louisiana. The four all trail Troy (10-2) by two games in the standings.
• With the win, Texas State has its most victories in a season since 2017-18 (23).
• Texas State is 12-3 at home this season. With the 12th win, it has its most home victories in a season since 2007-08.
• Hood has a team-high 6 double-doubles this season. She is averaging 17.5 points and 10.5 rebounds in the last 2 games.
• Kennedy Taylor has 712 career assists, which are 19 shy of matching the Sun Belt all-time record.
• The Bobcats have won 9 straight games against ULM, including 4 straight at home.
• The Bobcats have held their opponents to 57 points or less in 7 of the 8 last games.
• ULM outrebounded Texas State, 37-36.
• After shooting 25 percent in the second quarter (4-of-16), Texas State shot 69.2 percent in the third quarter (9-of-13).

 
UP NEXT
Texas State will play both of its games next week on the road, starting with a Feb. 9 matchup at Southern Miss. Tip-off is set for 5 pm in Hattiesburg, Miss. The Bobcats won the first meeting of the season on Jan. 28 in San Marcos, 62-52, in overtime.