Bobcats snap losing streak on senior night

By Rodrick Jackson

KTSW Sports Reporter

SAN MARCOS, Texas- The Texas State Bobcats (14-17) ended their regular season with a nail-biter of a win over the ULM Warhawks (18-12) with a score of 76-73.

Texas State’s senior night couldn’t have gone any better as they pulled out a hard-fought game against ULM Friday night. Ja’Niah Henson led the way with 18 points, with three more bobcats following right behind, also scoring double digits. Another standout of the game was Julia Coleman, who posted her second double-double of the season with 13 points and 14 rebounds.

Freshman forward Julia Coleman finishes a layup in the face of a ULM defender at Strahan Arena in San Marcos, TX. | Kate Maddison

“What a great output by our young freshman, Julia Coleman, who just increased her opportunity with the plays she makes,” Coach Antoine said. She also stated that Coleman is “very coachable and her future is bright as a bobcat.”.

However, this game was more than just basketball for not only Coach Antoine but also for Henson and Jaylin Foster. This game fell on the first day of March, which is known as the beginning of Women’s History Month.

When asked how it feels to be a woman in sports, Foster responded, “I know it’s always bigger than basketball, and it’s an opportunity to play for someone younger than me or someone who doesn’t have the ability to play, and I love that I am able to do that.”

Junior forward Jaylin foster maneuvers her way through the paint to score a basket in Strahan Arena in San Marcos, TX. | Kate Maddison

Henson followed up with, “As a woman of color, it’s a huge opportunity to be able to showcase to people all over the world that there’s an opportunity out there for everyone, and as long as you want something, you can achieve it.”.

Coach Antoine finished out the question with an idea that should be shown everywhere. “I always tell people I see myself as a woman before I see myself as a woman of color, because when you’re a woman, there are things that you have to overcome. The other piece of it is just truly understanding the evolution of women in sport and that having male is important for us to push forward.”.

The Bobcats will prepare for their first game of tournament play on March 5 against Georgia Southern in Pensacola, Florida. Be sure to tune in to KTSW 89.9 to see how it unfolds.