Bobcats’ season ends loss at SFA in WNIT

NACOGDOCHES – Texas State made 14 three-pointers and scored 53 points in the second half, but Stephen F. Austin backed up its 16-point halftime lead with a 63 percent shooting performance in the final 20 minutes to eliminate the Bobcats from the WNIT with an 8979 decision in the tournament’s first round on Thursday at the Johnson Coliseum.

The Bobcats (23-10) had nine of their 14 three-pointers in the fourth quarter, including five by Kennedy Taylor, but the Ladyjacks (277) could not be slowed down on the offensive end. Both teams attempted 60+ field goals in the game and shot over 50 percent: SFA 54.1 percent, Texas State 50 percent.

Texas State trailed 18-8 after the first quarter and 42-26 at halftime to put it in an insurmountable hole entering the second half. It was outshot by SFA, 47 percent to 36 percent, and outrebounded, 23-13, in the first half.

The Bobcats went shot for shot with the Ladyjacks in the third quarter – both sides scored 20 points with nine field goals made – and then outscored them 33-27 in the final period.

Taylor had a season- high 23 points on 8-of-13 shooting and 7-of-10 from three. The seven three-pointers were the most by a Bobcat this season. She also had seven assists.

Ja’Kayla Bowie tallied a career-high 24 to lead the Bobcats in scoring. The graduate student was 10-of-14 shooting, including 4-of-5 from long range.

Da’Nasia Hood finished with 12 points in her final game as a Bobcat.

The game was also the last for Taylor, Bowie, Taelour Pruitt (5 points) and Jaeda Reed (3 points).