SAN MARCOS, Texas – Texas State women's basketball battled all the way to the end with South Alabama, but on a last-ditch effort shot attempt from the Jaguars, they were able to come away with a win by a 65-64 score line and hand the Bobcats a loss.
 
With just two seconds to play and down by one, the Jaguars' Nadia Howard missed both her free throws at the line. Off the missed free throw, though, Kelsey Thompson got a rebound that allowed for another chance for the Jags. Thompson missed her put back, but Rachel Leggett rebounded and put her attempt back in to win the game for South Alabama.
 
Despite the result, the Bobcats had strong individual performances from members of its team, including a season-high 12 point and nine rebound showing from Morgan Hill. Jaylin Foster also controlled the boards early on for the Bobcats with nine first half rebounds, going on for a career-high 11 on the night. Tiffany Tullis had 13 points on the night, the most in one game in her time as a Bobcat.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED: The Bobcats got a lot of chances early on in this game, but were struggling to capitalize on them. After 21 attempts in the first quarter, the team had just 12 points. With 10 offensive rebounds in the first quarter they were limiting the Jaguars chances, but the scoring remained low on both sides. After the opening quarter the Jaguars were shooting 42% while knocking down 13 points to lead by one.
 
The two sides continued to be like for like in the second quarter when they both went 6-14 from the field, the only difference being the one extra point the Jaguars carried from the first quarter. Despite the Bobcats improving their scoring to 42% in the second, they couldn't find an advantage on the Jaguars before the halftime break.
 
Gara Beth Self had a productive third quarter for the Bobcats, going for six points, two rebounds and an assist in the seven minutes of playing time she saw. That, paired with four points and two rebounds from Hill led the 'Cats to a 19 point quarter. Despite this, though, South Alabama's No. 2 Kelsey Thompson shot lights-out in the third for 15 points on 6-7 shooting. Her 15 points helped the Jaguars to a team 22 as they carried a four point lead into the fourth quarter.
 
The game had four lead changes and three tied scores in the third. Ultimately, it was back and forth all the way down until the end. A foul on Kennedy Claybrooks with just 11 seconds to go gave the Bobcats a one-point lead. From there, the Bobcats fouled on the other end of the court and gave the Jaguars a chance to equalize. After missing both their attempts, though, Rachel Leggett got an offensive board and her put back was good to win the game 65-64 for the Jaguars.
 
WHAT HEAD COACH ZENARAE ANTOINE SAID: "It was a battle. When you're hungry and you're starving, you're going to do everything you can to win. And that wasn't us, that was South Alabama. There was no doubt about that. It was on me that they outplayed us, they came to play, and we didn't necessarily have an answer. We fought towards the end,  we got what we wanted as far as misses and we didn't complete the game. They out-hustled us. Hats off to South Alabama, that's what happens when you're hungry."

STAT LEADERS

• Points – Tiffany Tullis (13)
• Rebounds – Jaylin Foster (11)
• Assists – Jaylin Foster (3)
• Steals –  Sierra Dickson (3)
• Blocks – Morgan Hill (2)

 
SCORES BY QUARTER
1st | Texas State 12, South Alabama 13
2nd | Texas State 15, South Alabama 15
3rd | Texas State 19, South Alabama 22
4th | Texas State 18, South Alabama 15


GAME NOTES

• The Bobcats are now 11-12 on the season and 2-9 in conference play after the loss to South Alabama,
• Jaylin Foster tied her career high for rebounds in a single game with 11 today, including nine in the first half alone. 
• In her first start of the season, Morgan Hill tied her season high in scoring with 12 points tonight, she also tied her season high rebounds with nine. 

UP NEXT
The Bobcats will go on a road trip for two road games, including the MAC-SBC Challenge. On Wednesday, Feb. 7 the Bobcats will face Coastal Carolina in Conway, South Carolina at 5 p.m. (CT). The 'Cats will then go to Ohio on Saturday, Feb 10 for their MAC-SBC Challenge finale at noon.