DEKALB, Ill. – Despite a 23-point night from Kyra Anderson, Texas State dropped its final MAC-SBC Challenge game to Northern Illinois by a 71-69 scoreline.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The two teams started off the game trading buckets after a Mia Galbraith two to start things off. From there, though, a 6-0 run helped NIU get out to a 13-9 lead courtesy of 10 points from Nevaeh Wingate. The Bobcats scored two in the final three minutes of the quarter to trail 18-11 after the first quarter.
 
To start the second quarter, NIU pushed their lead to 22-11, but from there the Bobcats responded well out of the media time out. A 7-0 scoring run headlined by Anderson helped the Bobcats make it a 22-18 game. The two sides continued to battle from there, but Texas State made it a one-point game off an Anderson jumper with a minute to go in the first half. NIU would add two on late free throws to lead 29-26 at the half.
 
Out of the halftime break, Texas State went on a 7-1 run to give themselves a 33-30 lead. From there, the two teams went back and forth most the way through the quarter, with Texas State only ever able to extend its lead out to six. After the third Texas State led 47-46 after outscoring NIU 21-17 in the third.
 
In the fourth, Anderson got herself over the 20-point mark for the fifth time this season, including a bucket to help bring the game back within one. The two teams traded the lead throughout the fourth quarter but ultimately were knotted at 69 going into the final 30 seconds of the game. Northern Illinois had two seconds on an inbound play to score a bucket and did to take the 71-69 lead. Texas State had the chance to inbound the ball but were unable to score on the play.
 
After today's loss to NIU, Texas State is now 10-13 on the season and remains 6-6 in Sun Belt.

STAT LEADERS

• Points – Kyra Anderson (23)
• Rebounds – Deja Jones (6)
• Assists – KP Parr (7)

 
SCORES BY QUARTER
1st | Texas State 11, NIU 18
2nd | Texas State 15, NIU 11
3rd | Texas State 21, NIU 17
4th | Texas State 22, NIU 25

UP NEXT
Texas State will stay on the road for games at South Alabama on Feb. 12 at 7 pm and at Southern Miss on Feb. 14 at 5 pm. The Bobcats will then return home for the final two home games of the regular season on Feb. 18 vs Arkansas State and Feb. 21 vs South Alabama. All of the Bobcats' games are streamed on ESPN+ and fans can purchase tickets for home games at txst.com/tickets.