SAN MARCOS, Texas – Texas State women's basketball lost a close game with Louisiana by a 55-50 score. Despite neither side holding a lead of more than 7, the Bobcats were unable to come out with the win. It was a "game of inches" according to head coach
Zenarae Antoine, as the Bobcats fell narrowly by just two possessions.
WHAT HEAD COACH ZENARAE ANTOINE SAID: "It was evident from this game that at halftime our team came out and really battled and fought. It was just a few possessions, this game was so close. This was truly a game of inches that we ended up on the losing side of. What I can take away from this game is that I definitely felt better energy coming out at half. We had a better in game response. We tried some different looks this game because of the way [Louisiana] plays and I thought that was a good response from us. It was just untimely fouls, a missed box out, just a close shot that rimmed in and out. It was truly just a game of inches at the end of the day."
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Ja'Niah Henson drained two three-point attempts to start the Bobcats on a 6-0 run. From there, the Ragin' Cajuns brought it back within one and ultimately went on to taking the four-point lead at the end of the quarter. Both sides were able to shoot well, with the Bobcats going 5-11 and the Ragin' Cajuns 7-13, but limited possessions kept the scoring low throughout the entire game.
The shooting accuracy depleted in the second quarter, though. Both sides were shooting below 30% in the second quarter and totaled for just 15 points between the two of them. Texas State went 3-12 with two of those being three-point attempts for their eight points in the second quarter. At the half the Bobcats trailed by three.
Texas State went 3-9 from the field and 5-6 from the line in the third quarter for its 11 points. Leading the way was
Crystal Smith off the bench with four points, all from the free throw line. Both sides were split on rebounding and turnovers as the only difference maker in the third quarte was an extra free-throw attempt by the Ragin' Cajuns.
The 4
th quarter became a free-throw affair for the Ragin' Cajuns. While the game was close the entire way, Louisiana made just three field goals in the fourth quarter while scoring 20 points. 14 points of Louisiana's came from the line in the 4
th. While the Bobcats put up 19 of their own on 7-15 shooting, just three of their points were from the free throw line.
Gara Beth Self knocked down two crucial three-pointers late in the game as she led the Bobcats with six points in the 4
th quarter.
Despite three of the quarters being decided by one point, the four point split from the first quarter was the difference maker as the Bobcats fell 55-50 on Saturday afternoon.
STAT LEADERS
SCORES BY QUARTER
1st | Texas State 12, Louisiana 16
2nd | Texas State 8, Louisiana 7
2nd | Texas State 11, Louisiana 12
2nd | Texas State 19, Louisiana 20
GAME NOTES
- The Bobcats are now 13-16 on the season and 3-13 in conference play after the loss to Louisiana.
UP NEXT
The Bobcats will close the regular season at home with games against Southern Miss and ULM. The Bobcats will host Southern Miss on Wednesday, Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. inside Strahan Arena, while hosting ULM on Friday, March 1 at 5 p.m.. Both games will be streamed on ESPN+.
