HATTIESBURG, Mississippi – Texas State women's basketball suffered a 68-58 loss to Southern Miss after a 28-point fourth quarter by the Golden Eagles silenced the Bobcats attempt at a comeback when they headed to the 4
th tied 40-40.
Tiffany Tullis had a career night, though. Tullis shot a perfect 9-9 for 20 points matching her career high from her Prairie View days in 2021. She was the first Bobcat to go perfect in over eight field goal attempts since before the team joined the Sun Belt. She paired her night with a team-high eight rebounds and three steals.
Ja'Niah Henson also had a double-digit night with 14 points on 4-10 three-point shooting with two free throws.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The opening quarter was highlighted by two three-point attemps from
Ja'Niah Henson who had six of the team's eight points in the opening quarter. The game was close until Southern Miss went on an 8-0 run to end the quarter, giving them the nine point lead at the end of the first quarter. With turnovers plaguing both sides as they combined for 15 in the first quarter, Southern Miss had the slight edge with 11 of their 18 points off turnovers.
The Bobcats started to stage a comeback in the second quarter after a cold start shooting. The started the quarter 3-15 but finished with five of seven made to keep it a single-digit game at the media timeout. Texas State held Southern Miss scoreless in the final four minutes of play to cut the deficit to four at the half.
Tullis came out of the halftime break and scored six quick points to equalize the game 28-28. From there, the Golden Eagles went on a run to take a 36-30 lead. The Golden Eagles were able to hold a lead through most the third quarter, but the Bobcats made a late-quarter comeback off a
Kennedy Claybrooks three to tie the game at 40 headed into the 4
th.
Opening the fourth quarter, the Golden Eagles took the momentum and ran away with the game. As Domonique Davis went for 16 points in the final quarter alone, she was able to push the Golden Eagles to the win. As the teams both shot 6-12 in the fourth, it was the free-throw shooting that was the final nail in the coffin for the Bobcats. Southern Miss had 14 free throws to Texas State's five in the final quarter as they went for the 68-58 win.
STAT LEADERS
SCORES BY QUARTER
1st | Texas State 8, Southern Miss 17
2nd | Texas State 14, Southern Miss 9
2nd | Texas State 18, Southern Miss 14
2nd | Texas State 18, Southern Miss 28
GAME NOTES
- The Bobcats are now 13-14 on the season and 3-11 in conference play after the loss to Southern Miss
UP NEXT
The Bobcats next home game will be Feb. 21 against conference leading Marshall at 7 pm inside Strahan Arena. That will be the first of the Bobcats four home games to end the regular season.
