Texas State Women’s Basketball Ends Home Stand with Loss

By Wes Clary
Sports Reporter

The Texas State women’s basketball team came up short at home Saturday afternoon against the University of Louisiana Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns 59-47, only the third loss the Bobcats have suffered at Strahan this season.

Both teams were neck and neck through the first half. The Bobcats came back from a 15-8 deficit to take the first quarter 19-17. Neither team could seem to turn the offense on during the second quarter with the Bobcats managing only five points and the Ragin’ Cajuns with seven, resulting in a 24-24 tie at the half.

The Bobcats started the second half strong trading baskets with UL Lafayette. Half way through the third quarter, the Bobcats started to slip away but back-to-back threes from Whitney Apari and Ayriel Anderson brought new life and tied it back up 37-all. The Bobcats fell five points back by the end of the third and slipped away by falling down double digits halfway through the fourth. Raven Burns sank a three to cut the lead to seven but that would be the closest the Bobcats before the Ragin’ Cajuns went on a 10-5 run ending the game.

The Bobcats had trouble maintaining possession of the ball. UL Lafayette forced 21 turnovers resulting in 21 points, whereas the Bobcats managed only 13 turnovers resulting in six points.

The Bobcats were lead by senior guard Raven Burns with 14 points. Burns recorded her 10th double-digit scoring game this season and her fifth time to lead the team in scoring. Kaitlin Walla finished with 13 points including three three-pointers in the first quarter. Ericka May lead the Bobcats with nine rebounds, her 16th time this season to lead and her 19th time in her overall career.

Texas State is currently the seventh seed with a 7-8 record in the Sun Belt and 12-13 overall. The Bobcats magic number remains at three to seal a spot in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament in New Orleans.

Texas State is back on the road for three straight games starting with number one seeded Arkansas State on February 25th. Tip off is scheduled for 5:05 pm.

Featured image by Eddie Lerma.