NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Texas State made 14 three-pointers and scored 53 points in the second half, but Stephen F. Austin backed up its 16-point halftime lead with a 63 percent shooting performance in the final 20 minutes to eliminate the Bobcats from the WNIT with an 89-79 decision in the tournament's first round on Thursday at the Johnson Coliseum.
 
The Bobcats (23-10) had nine of their 14 three-pointers in the fourth quarter, including five by Kennedy Taylor, but the Ladyjacks (27-7) could not be slowed down on the offensive end. Both teams attempted 60+ field goals in the game and shot over 50 percent: SFA 54.1 percent, Texas State 50 percent.
 
Texas State trailed 18-8 after the first quarter and 42-26 at halftime to put it in an insurmountable hole entering the second half. It was outshot by SFA, 47 percent to 36 percent, and outrebounded, 23-13, in the first half.
 
The Bobcats went shot for shot with the Ladyjacks in the third quarter – both sides scored 20 points with nine field goals made – and then outscored them 33-27 in the final period.
 
Taylor had a season-high 23 points on 8-of-13 shooting and 7-of-10 from three. The seven three-pointers were the most by a Bobcat this season. She also had seven assists.
 
Ja'Kayla Bowie tallied a career-high 24 to lead the Bobcats in scoring. The graduate student was 10-of-14 shooting, including 4-of-5 from long range.
 
Da'Nasia Hood finished with 12 points in her final game as a Bobcat.
 
The game was also the last for Taylor, Bowie, Taelour Pruitt (5 points) and Jaeda Reed (3 points).
 
 
STAT LEADERS

• Points – Ja'Kayla Bowie (24)
• Rebounds – Ja'Kayla Bowie, Jaeda Reed (6)
• Assists – Kennedy Taylor (7)
• Steals – Kennedy Taylor (1)
• Blocks – No blocks

 
SCORES BY QUARTER
1st | SFA 25, Texas State 8
2nd | SFA 42, Texas State 26
3rd | SFA 62, Texas State 46
4th | SFA 89, Texas State 79
 
GAME NOTES

• The 14 three-pointers made by the Bobcats were their most in a game since Jan. 27, 2018 (14 at Georgia State).
• Bowie's 24 points and Taylor's 23 gave the Bobcats their first game with a pair of 20-point scorers since Nov. 15 earlier this season against Arlington Baptist (24 by Tianna Eaton, 23 by Morgan Hill).
• Hood finished her Texas State career with 1,845 career points, which were fifth-most in program history.
• Hood had 4 rebounds to give her 837 in her career, which is also fifth-most in program history.
• Taylor finished her Texas State career with 769 career assists, the most in Sun Belt Conference history and Texas State history.
• The Bobcats ended the season with back-to-back losses, their first consecutive defeats since mid-November.
• SFA has won 85 of its last 90 games at home, dating back to 2017-18.