Jan. 27, 2007

Final Stats

SAN MARCOS - Ashley Banks' lay-up off a steal with 19 seconds left helped seal a Texas State victory despite a furious Bearkat rally as the Bobcat women defeated Sam Houston State 67-60 on Saturday at Strahan Coliseum.

Brooke DeGrate led all scorers with 15 points and made two free throws with six seconds left to ice the game for the `Cats, who improved to 13-8 on the season and 6-2 in conference while SHSU dropped to 4-16 overall and 1-6 in the SLC.

Both teams struggled from the floor in the early goings. Ryann Bradford's jumper nearly four minutes into the game marked the first field goal for either team and started a 13-2 Texas State run over the first 10 minutes of action.

Sam Houston fought back with a pair of threes from Erica Parker, and the Bearkats took a 17-16 lead two minutes before half time when Brittany Brooks capped a 15-3 SHSU run with a baseline jumper.

The Bobcats came back to take a slight 19-17 lead at the half, but the lead quickly grew once play resumed as Texas State hit five of its first six shots to go up 33-21 with 16:34 left in the game.

Texas State would then maintain a double digit lead until the final two minutes, when the Bearkats made their late rally.

Up by seven with 45 seconds left, the Bobcats were clutch from the free throw line a DeGrate and Ashley Leffingwell combined to go 5-for-5 at the charity stripe down the stretch. SHSU shaved another point off the Texas State lead with 29 seconds remaining, but Banks stripped Alexis Green for the steal and easy lay-up.

Joyce Ekworomadu also reached doubled figures for the Bobcats with 13 points. Sam Houston had two players reach double digits as Kendall Homesley led the Bearkats with 13 and Parker netted 10.

Texas State will now prepare for a Friday night contest against Texas-Arlington, who defeated Stephen F. Austin 57-56 to hold onto the West divison's top spot and remain perfect in conference play at 8-0.