Texas State snapped a three-game losing streak behind 19 points from sophomore guard Ja’Mia Harris and a double-double performance from senior Jaylin Foster with 17 points and ten rebounds.
The Bobcats improve their overall record to 8-7 and their conference record to 2-3.
“It's a sign of relief,” Foster said. “We trusted the process. We just had to take it game by game and understand that when we keep putting in the work, it'll come to light.”
Head Coach Zenarae Antoine was proud of the team for not only snapping their three-game losing streak but also getting a win on their home court.
“I'm very happy for our program and for these young ladies on our team that we were able to get a home win,” Antoine said. “It's really been suffocating for them in a lot of ways. They have to hear from their coaching staff and the coaching staff has to hear from me.
“I did not like the finish when [South Alabama] punched back and they definitely punched back, but the good thing is that we built up enough equity in the game that it didn't affect the outcome.”
Texas State jumped out to a 5-0 lead over South Alabama before the Jaguars responded with a 10-0 run.
After the Jaguar jumper made it a 10-5 game, the Bobcats called a timeout.
“We talked about having quality shots and taking care of the basketball,” Antoine said. “In the past when we haven't done that right and teams do a good job of exploiting it by getting and running transitions that puts a lot of stress on our defense. Truly, our last game helped prepare for this game.”
For Harris, playing as a team was the key in not letting South Alabama regaining the lead.
“It was just not getting loose and to keep just standing together,” Harris said. “Not letting them come back.”
Harris made the layup before the Bobcats entered the second quarter down 10-7.
Texas State opened the period on a 7-0 run to retake the lead at 15-10 before South Alabama hit a three pointer to make it a one possession game. The Bobcats closed out the second quarter on a 16-4 run and entered halftime up 31-17.
The Bobcats were powered by a strong first half performance from Harris who scored 17 points, 15 coming in the second quarter.
“I was hitting shots and just getting downhill,” Harris said “[Just] doing what I do best, but most part is my teammates just getting me the ball when I had open shots.”
Though South Alabama outscored Texas State in the second half, it wasn’t enough as the Bobcats rolled to the at 65-54.
Joining Foster and Harris in double figures were graduate senior guard Destiny Terrell and junior guard Blake Matthews. Terrell ended the game with 13 points while Matthews finished with 11 points.
“Going back to that [Arkansas State] game [was] us understanding if we play at our tempo, whether it be in transition or with the half court, we're gonna get some good looks,” Antoine said. “If we don't get the first look against a team we're going to get the second and third, but understanding where they see it.
“Film has helped out a lot with that so the players like Jalen said, they trusted the process. They trusted the film, they trusted what work, they trusted what we had done in practice, and then they saw it pay off, even when they didn't see it pay off.”
Texas State will be back on the road Wednesday when the Bobcats make the trip to Statesboro in a showdown with the Georgia Southern Eagles. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m.
