March 8, 2009

Box Score

SAN MARCOS - Kim Cessna led the Texas State women's basketball team with a career-high 26 points and eight rebounds in her final game as a Bobcat, but the success would not be enough to hold off Sam Houston State's 70-percent shooting effort in the second half and the team fell 88-83 on Senior Day Sunday afternoon at Strahan Coliseum.

The loss eliminated Texas State from a berth into the Southland Conference Tournament. It is the first time since the 1989-90 season that the Texas State women's basketball team has not played in the league's postseason tournament.

Along with Cessna, seniors Brittany Wilson, Ashley Cole and Ryann Bradford were honored in a pre-game ceremony.

The first half of action saw four ties and five lead changes before Texas State took a 31-26 lead into the break. The Bobcats final surge came at the seven-minute mark with a 9-0 run to take a 29-23 edge before the break.

A quick foul on Texas State's end put the ball in Sam Houston's court in the second half and at 15:49 a jumper from Whitney Smith tied the game at 40-all. The Bobcats went on a 4-0 run, but two points from Lydia Gonzales and a three-pointer from Leasa Ailshie erased the lead to put the Bearkats up by one.

Gonzales finished the night 11-for-17 with a team-best 19 points, all coming in the second half. Ailshie went 4-for-6 from three-point range and finished with 16 points. Three other Bearkats finished in double figures to aid the win.

For the game, Texas State shot 47 percent from the field and 68 percent from the free throw line. The Bobcats made just two shots from beyond the arc, including one from Victoria Davis with 17 seconds remaining for an 81-84 game to bring the team within one possession.

The Bobcats held a 43-27 rebound margin over the Bearkats.

Texas State closes out the 2008-09 season with a 12-16 overall record and a 6-10 SLC record.