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Texas State Holds Off UMKC 55-51
Nov. 25, 2006
SAN MARCOS - Ashley Leffingwell hit five free throws in the final 19 seconds, and a technical foul against UMKC head coach Bo Overton with 1.5 seconds remaining propelled Texas State (3-3) to a 55-51 win over the Kangaroos (1-5) in the final game of the CenturyTel Classic Saturday night. Leffingwell, who was named to the CenturyTel Classic all-tournament team, finished with a game high 18 points and was one of two Bobcats in double figures. Erica Putnam added 11 points and five rebounds for the `Cats. Texas State survived a poor shooting night, connecting on just 28.6 percent of its field goals. Preseason All-SLC pick Joyce Ekworomadu also shot a career-worst 0-12, managing just three points and five rebounds. Alysa Klein scored on UMKC's first possession, but Putnam answered for the Bobcats. Lay-ups by Klein and Picconi allowed the Kangaroos to take a 6-2 lead at the game's first media timeout with 15:26 left in the first half. Ryann Bradford brought the `Cats back with a runner from the left side to start a 7-0 Texas State run over the next 5:07. Tobey Beer then ended the UMKC drought by hitting a three to tie the game at 9-9. Brown and Picconi then connected from the floor on each of the next two Kangaroo possessions to give UMKC a 13-9 lead. Texas State answered using 3-point plays. Elyse Wright hit a pair of 3-pointers from the left corner to bring the Bobcats right back, giving Texas State a 15-13 lead with a shade over eight minutes remaining in the first half. A few possessions later, Leffingwell connected on a three from well beyond the arc before Erica Putnam made a lay-up and was fouled on the shot. Texas State led 21-17 with 3:57 left until Marta Waalen hit a jumper to end a three minute UMKC scoreless spell.
The game remained tied until Zenetta Potts hit a free throw with 56 seconds left, and that proved to be the last points before the half time buzzer as the `Cats held a 24-23 lead at the half. Texas State then opened up the second half with a 9-2 run over the first 3:43, capped off by another Leffingwell three. Brooke DeGrate also had three steals during the run to pace the `Cats defense. After UMKC cut the lead down to six, Leffingwell hit her third three pointer of the game to put Texas State back up by nine, 38-29, with 14 minutes remaining. With just over 11 minutes left, UMKC's Tobey Beer hit a three to make it a 39-37 game, but the Bobcats were able to survive going six minutes without a field goal of their own. Marie Moser made four free throws over the span to keep the `Cats from ever losing the lead. Victoria Davis' finally ended the Texas State dry spell from the floor by hitting a three pointer with 7:25 left, making it a 46-39 game. A trio of UMKC lay-ups cut it to 48-47 with 4:40 remaining, and the Kangaroos tied the game two minutes later on a Chazny Morris free throw to cap a 9-2 run. Putnam hit a lay-up with 90 seconds remaining to put the `Cats back up 50-48, but Klein answered with a lay-up of her own. With both teams in the bonus, Beer made one of two free throws to put UMKC up 51-50 with under 40 seconds left. On the next Bobcat possession, Beer was whistled for a foul against Leffingwell, who made the first of five free throws that helped ice the game. Klein was the lone Kangaroo in double figures, scoring 16 points and adding seven rebounds and three blocks. The Bobcats return to the court Wednesday against Huston-Tillotson with a 5:30 p.m. tip-off. |
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