SAN MARCOS, Texas – Texas State women's basketball's late-game comeback in the opening game of the Sun Belt Tournament fell short. Despite tying the game in the dying seconds, a late two by the Golden Eagles had them up 72-70. Despite three seconds remaining on the clock, the Bobcats were unable to hit the buzzer beater to tie the game and fell by two.
Freshman
Julia Coleman had a career-high 18 points in the tournament game, though. Her 7-10 shooting and 4-5 from the free throw line was a big part in the Bobcats' fourth-quarter comeback.
Ja'Niah Henson also had 16 points on 5-12 shooting while knocking down three threes.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The Bobcats got off to a cold start when Georgia Southern took an 14-2 lead. From there
Ja'Niah Henson was able to drain a three and start the Bobcats run to make things a four-point game late in the first quarter. To end the first quarter.
Crystal Smith made an end-to-end effort for a three to make the score 22-17 with 42 seconds left
Smith had a layup right at the start of the second quarter to make it a 24-19 score line. From there
Morgan Hill made a jumper to make it a one possession game. The Golden Eagles went on a 10-0 run after that to make it 34-21. The Cats scored just 12 points in the second quarter as they had an 11 point deficit going into the second half.
Continuing their hot start into the second half, Georgia Southern was able to extend their lead to 16 points off a pair of Terren Ward free throws. From there, though, the Bobcats slowly dug away at the Golden Eagles lead. Both sides scored 20 apiece in the third, so after headed into the final quarter the Bobcats were back at their 11 point deficit to overcome.
A little over a minute into the fourth quarter,
Jaylin Foster drained a three to cut the Georgia Southern lead to single digits for the first time since early in the third quarter. From there, Coleman put in a layup to cut things to six. The two teams went back and forth, with the Bobcats unable to break the deadlock. Until a
Ja'Niah Henson drained a three to make things 68-63, followed by a
Morgan Hill layup to make it a three point game with two minutes to go.
Smith hit a game tying three with 1:53 on the clock to make things 68-68. Georgia Southern got a two, answered by another Hill layup. Terren Ward made the ultimately game winning bucket with four seconds left on the clock. The Bobcats tried to inbound the ball and get the shot off, but were unsuccessful. At the end of 40 minutes, Georgia Southern came away with a 72-70 win.
STAT LEADERS
SCORES BY QUARTER
1st | Texas State 17, Georgia Southern 24
2nd | Texas State 12, Georgia Southern 16
2nd | Texas State 20, Georgia Southern 20
2nd | Texas State 21, Georgia Southern 12
