Bobcats Break the Bulldogs, 76-59
SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State women's basketball team opened up the home slate with a convincing 76-59 victory over Fresno State on Saturday evening inside Strahan Coliseum. Head coach Zenarae Antoine has won all seven home-openers in her tenure at Texas State.
After a sluggish start in the first frame, the Texas State Bobcats (4-1) were able to pull away from the Fresno State Bulldogs (1-4) in the second quarter. TXST scored just 11 points in the first 10 minutes of the game, but scored 49 points in the second and third quarter. The offensive explosion led to a 17-point lead heading into the final stanza.
For the second time in as many games, Toshua Leavitt established a new career-high for scoring. After pouring in 24 points in the win over Texas Southern, the guard registered 28 points against the Bulldogs. Leavitt knocked down six 3-point shots for the third time this season, matching her total from the Incarnate Word and Texas Southern games. The game also marks the third time this season she has topped 20 points in a Bobcat victory.
Three more Bobcats tallied double figure scoring on the night. Taeler Deer netted 13 points and dished out four assists. Both Chania Wright and Zelor Massaquoi scored a career-best 10 points, aiding in the TXST bench outscoring the Bulldogs 23-21. Wright connected on a trio of triples in five attempts. Massaqoui was a perfect 4-of-4 from the floor, including a pair of and-1 attempts.
Ti'Aira Pitts was tenacious on the glass, ripping down a career-best 11 boards in the contest, including four on the offensive end. Ericka May and Taeler Deer both notched three offensive rebounds. As a team, the Bobcats pulled in 15 rebounds off of their own misses, turning the extra possessions into 17 points.
Texas State moved the ball efficiently, booking 20 assists on 26 made field goals for the game. May led the team in dimes, tallying five assists, tying a career-high. Deer recorded four assists, while Chania Wright and Brooke Holle both handed out three assists.
The Bobcats turned the Bulldogs over 19 times in the game. The visiting team only recorded six assists on the evening. TXST held Fresno State to just 18-of-57 (31.6-percent) and 6-of-23 (26.1-percent) from behind the arc.
Offensively, the Bobcats continued to knock down the outside shot, hitting 11 3-point attempts, marking the fourth time in five contests which the team has connected on double-digit makes from deep.
Texas State won its first of four straight games at Strahan Coliseum. The Bobcats opened the season with four consecutive games away from home, winning three. TXST will stay in San Marcos for a mid-week matchup with the Houston Cougars. Tip is scheduled for a 7 p.m. start on Nov. 28.
Ragin' Cajuns Strong Bench Helps To Beat Niagara
LAS VEGAS – Thanks to 42 points from their bench and a near perfect stretch at the free throw line in the last three minutes of the game, the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns women's basketball team outlasted the Niagara Purple Eagles, 68-52, to win their first game at the South Point Thanksgiving Shootout here in Las Vegas at the South Point Arena.
The win snapped a three-game losing streak for the Cajuns, and it improves their record to 2-3. It's also the first win, in the first ever meeting between the two schools, for Louisiana against Niagara. The loss drops the Purple Eagles to 0-5.
Offensively the Cajuns had three score in double digits, seniors Nekia Jones (13 points) Kendra Howard (12 points) along with freshman Skyler Goodwin (11 points), who returned from injury to join the double digit scoring trio coming off the bench in the game, to finish above the 10-point mark.
But it was on the boards where the Cajuns excelled out rebounding the Purple Eagles 44-34 and they were led by senior Simone Fields (six rebounds), Jones (six rebounds) and sophomore Kimberly Burton (six rebounds) to help the Cajuns dominate the glass.
Defensively they were strong as well, holding Niagara to 32 percent shooting from the field and they kept the Purple Eagles to under 10 percent from beyond the arc (nine percent) to make sure the Purple Eagles never got on a significant run through the game.
HOW IT HAPPENED (First Quarter): The Purple Eagles jumped out to a 4-0 lead early, but redshirt freshman Danyale Bayonne settled the Cajuns down with two quick baskets, she nailed a jumper at the 7:56 mark to make it 4-2 Niagara. Bayonne then followed that up with a three-point shot just about a minute later (6:41) to make it 6-5 Niagara and with those baskets Louisiana settled into their game.
The Purple Eagles attempted to pull ahead in the quarter, but any run they made was stifled by the Cajuns ability to get rebounds and make shots. Louisiana's defense was strong as well, not giving Niagara any easy shots, holding the Purple Eagles to 39 percent shooting in the quarter.
At the 1:44 mark in the quarter the Purple Eagles held a six-point lead. But the Cajuns were poised to respond and with a three-point shot from Howard along with a rebound that Howard put back, the Cajuns finished the quarter on a 5-0 run, putting the score at 13-12 in favor of Niagara.
HOW IT HAPPENED (Second Quarter): The Cajuns carried their 5-0 run into the second quarter making it a 7-0 run before it came to an end. A quick 3-0 run from the Purple Eagles gave them a two-point lead but a layup from sophomore Malachi-Seraphin Williams tied it up at 16-16.
Following the Seraphin-Williams basket, she made a free throw to put the Cajuns up by one, and they never gave that lead away for the remainder of the game. Continuing her strong quarter Seraphin-Williams nailed a layup to put the score at 19-16 and the Cajuns were off and running.
As the quarter reached its conclusion the Purple Eagles got within two points, putting the score at 28-26. But Fields, made sure the Cajuns had a strong finish to the half. She snagged a defensive rebound at the 1:15 mark and in the Cajuns next possession, Fields nailed a layup to put the Cajuns up four with the score at 30-26 with the teams heading to the locker room.
HOW IT HAPPENED (Third Quarter): Halfway through the third quarter the Cajuns lead had been cut three points, but Howard stepped up for the Cajuns.
In back-to-back defensive possessions she took a charge, and after the second change of possession Goodwin drove the basket and hit a layup after getting fouled. She drained the layup and the Cajuns went up 35-29 at the six-minute mark of the quarter.
Once again, the Purple Eagles chipped away at Louisiana's lead. But a technical foul against Niagara's Jamie Sherburne allowed Goodwin to give the Cajuns a five-point lead by sinking three free throws to put the score at 40-35.
Although from there the momentum seemed to have switched the Cajuns way, Niagara wouldn't go away and at the 3:35 mark they got within one point. It would be the closest they got to the Cajuns for the rest of the game.
As the quarter drew to an end the Cajuns went on a 8-1 run, finished off with a layup from Burton to put the score at 51-42 when the third quarter came to an end.
HOW IT HAPPENED (Fourth Quarter): A three-pointer from Jones at the 4:05 mark put the Cajuns up by nine (57-48) but Niagara attempted one last comeback following that. They scored back-to-back baskets and at the 3:15 mark it was 57-52. But the Purple Eagles wouldn't score another point.
Down the stretch, Louisiana out rebounded the Purple Eagles 6-1 and they went 11-12 at the charity stripe to close out the game. Jones was lights out from the line going 7 for 8, with four rebounds and one steal to help Louisiana close out the game and come away with the win 68-52.
NOTEWORTHY: The Cajuns attempted 29 free throws (making 22 of them finishing at 76 percent) which surpasses any amount of attempted free throws this season by 12 (the closest being 17 attempts at No. 20 Texas A&M on Nov. 12); It's the first time the Cajuns have held a team to under 10 percent shooting from three-point range (min. 10 attempts) since holding Texas State to 83 percent (1-12) on Mar. 2, 2017;
42 points off the bench are the most for the Cajuns since scoring 38 against Georgia State on Feb. 4, 2017 and it's just one less than the 43 they got off the bench against Dillard on Dec. 12, 2015; This is the third time this season that the Cajuns have had at least three women score in double figures, the other two being against No. 20 Texas A&M on Nov. 12 and New Orleans on Nov. 10.
UP NEXT FOR THE RAGIN' CAJUNS: The Cajuns return to the court on Sunday Nov. 26 when they face off against the Cleveland State Vikings here starting at 3:15 CST in the second game of the South Point Thanksgiving Shootout at the South Point Arena.
A-State Falters in Second Half at Pittsburgh
PITTSBURGH, Pa. (11/25/17) – Pittsburgh drained 11 of its 3-point attempts in the second half as the Panthers defeated the Arkansas State women’s basketball team 87-47 Saturday night at the Petersen Events Centers.
A-State saw its record to drop to 2-3 on the season, while the Panthers improved their record to 5-1 behind six players in double-figures.
Starr Taylor paced the Red Wolves with nine points, while Lauren Bradshaw just missed tying a career-high with 12 rebounds. She also had two blocks, and is now four away from becoming Arkansas State’s time leader in the category. She currently stands at 129 career blocks.
Yacine Diop paced the Panthers with 16 points, who shot 52.3 percent (34-of-65) from the field as a team. Pittsburgh also made 68.2 percent of its 3-point attempts, and held A-State to just 23.9 percent shooting on the night.
How It Happened (First Half):
A slow start from the field put the Red Wolves behind early after Pittsburgh went on an 8-0 run midway through the first quarter to build a 15-5 lead. The run was highlighted by a pair of 3-pointers from Yacine Diop who led the Panthers with 13 points in the opening half.
A-State countered with an 8-0 run of its own to end the first half that was highlighted by the play of Madison Heckert who knocked down a 3-pointer and had a put back during the span to get her squad within 15-13 before the Panthers made a basket before the first quarter buzzer sounded to take a four point lead.
Arkansas State’s shooting woes continued in the second quarter as Pitt went on a 13-3 run to start the period and led 29-16 at the media timeout. A-State closed the gap to 34-23 at the halftime break thanks to Starr Taylor who finished with seven points to pace her squad in the first half.
Pittsburgh shot 41 percent (14-of-34) from the field in the half, while the Red Wolves made just 32 percent (9-of-28) of their attempts and committed 10 turnovers. Each team grabbed 20 rebounds, while Pitt held an 18-12 edge in points in the paint.
How It Happed (Second Half):
Pittsburgh extended its lead in the third quarter thanks to a 10-of-15 mark from the field, including 5-of-6 from beyond the arc in the period. A 12-2 run by the Panthers increased the advantage to 48-29, while another 12-2 run to end the period gave A-State a 60-35 deficit entering the fourth quarter.
Pittsburgh shot 64.5 percent from the field in the second half and made also made 11 of its 16, 3-pointers in the final 20 minutes. A-State continued to its poor shooting performance and made just seven field goals in the second half, while continuing to struggle at the foul line on the road this season.
Notables:
Arkansas State fell to 4-8 all-time against opponents from the ACC.
A-State failed to have a player reach double-figures in scoring for the first time since Nov. 11, 2016 at Oklahoma State.
Lauren Bradshaw had two blocks and now stands at 129 for her career. She needs just three more to tie the all-time record at A-State and four more to have the record outright.
Akasha Westbrook failed to reach double-figures for the first time this season.
Jada Ford made her first start since Jan. 5, 2017 at Appalachian State.
Maggie Mahan made her first appearance for the Red Wolves this season. She was the last A-State player to appear in a game.
Quoting Coach Brian Boyer:
“Tonight just looked like one of those nights where nobody was comfortable with each other. You go back to the other night against UT Martin and everybody looked comfortable playing together but tonight had a bad feel about it. Nobody looked comfortable out there or with their teammates and the biggest thing is that we knew Pitt was really good at making the extra pass and we talked about how we had to take that away and we just weren’t able to do that.
Up Next:
A-State returns home for a non-conference matchup with Tennessee State. Tip-off it set for Thursday, Nov. 30 at 7 p.m. at First National Bank Arena.