From staff reports
El Paso — Despite nearly tripling its first-half performance, the Texas State women’s basketball team could not overcome a season-low 13-point halftime score and the Utah State Aggies took a 50-47 decision over the Bobcats Friday evening in the opening game of the UTEP Thanksgiving Classic at the Don Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas.
The Bobcats fall to 2-3 on the season and were scheduled to face the loser of the UTEP/Monmouth game on Saturday.
Utah State improved to 3-2 with the win.
Ashley Cole and Victoria Davis led the Bobcats with nine points each in the effort. As a team, Texas State shot 35.8 percent from the field, connecting on 19-of-35 attempts.
Texas State fell behind in the opening minute when Danyelle Snelgro laid in two points at 19:04 to give Utah State the early lead. Two points from Cole tied the tally, but Texas State went on a five-minute dry spell following the shot and allowed USU to take a 10-2 lead.
At 12:56, Megan Homan drained a three to split the Aggies’ score in half; however five points would be the closest Texas State would come. The Bobcats made the most of 14 turnovers on Utah State’s end to open in the half, scoring 11 of their 13 first-half points off mishaps. Texas State concluded the stanza with a season-low 6-for-24 effort, just 25 percent from the field.
The Bobcats changed pace in the second half and Kim Cessna jump-started the comeback with a three-point play just 30 seconds into action. Utah State retaliated with six points, but Cole broke up the scoring with two free shots to initiate a 7-1 run in the Bobcats’ favor.
At 12:48 Ana Pares connected from behind the arc to give Utah State a 33-24 lead and paused the Bobcats’ charge, but Cessna came through on the next play with a jumper from 15 feet to put Texas State within seven.
A pair of free throws put the Bobcats in the same position, but fighting hard for the comeback, Chika Ofoegbu and Gabriell Mattox teamed together for a forced turnover and a pair of jumpers to bring Texas State within five. Cole continued the attack, draining a trey at 7:42 for a 33-35 score, signaling a timeout.
Out from the break, Pares connected for a three again, but Ofoegbu countered with a pair to retain the close margin. Then with less than six minutes on the clock, Davis pulled up for a jumper and was successful, trimming Utah State’s lead to one.
This would be the closest Texas State would come to taking the victory, fighting back-and-forth with the Aggies leaving no more than a four-point gap between the chance of a victory.
With just nine seconds on the clock, Davis took a three-pointer to put the Bobcats within two, and with one last possession remaining, Cole attempted the game-winning three but the shot fell short.
Texas State improved to shoot 44.8 percent in the final half. Cessna chipped in seven points, while Ofoegbu and Aimee Hilburn posted six points in the effort. Hilburn brought down a game-high eight rebounds tonight.
The pair of Pares and Snelgro led Utah State with 17 points each.
