Women Come up Short in SBC Semifinals Against Texas State, 62-56

The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns women's basketball team fell in the Sun Belt Conference Semifinals to the Texas State Bobcats on Saturday night, 62-56.

With the loss the Cajuns fail to reach the Finals in consecutive seasons but the team certainly fought to the very end.

The game didn't get off to the start that the Cajuns were hoping for as the offense sputtered to only nine points in the first quarter. The defense struggled to contain the Texas State Bobcats on offense as they poured in 16 points against UL.

The second quarter was a different story as the offense for the Cajuns started to flow, they shot 70% from the field. Troi Swain was able to get going a little bit as well as Simon Fields as they lead UL with five points each at half time. They outscored the Bobcats 18-13 to pull within two points half way through, 29-27.

Leavitt and Deer were big players in the first half for Texas State as they each chipped in with nine points. The third quarter would be no different as they continued playing well, Leavitt doubled her first half total in the third quarter and had hit five three pointers up until that point.

For the Ragin' Cajuns it was Skyler Goodwin, the only one in double figures but it was really the defense that let UL down as they gave up 20 points in that third quarter. Also, the Bobcats were very good with the basketball, only turning it over one time in the quarter.

UL trailed 49-41 heading to the fourth quarter but the deficit would grow to twelve with a Taeler Deer layup at 56-44 but from there the Cajuns would go on a 9-0 run to cut the Texas State lead to three (56-53) with the ball.

With a chance to tie the ball game or cut into the lead, Jomyra Mathis missed a jumper and the Bobcats would knock down two free throws. The Cajuns wouldn't go away though, as Nekia Jones would come back and bury a triple to cut the lead down to two at 58-56.

Unfortunately, Nekia Jones, the senior committed a costly turnover with UL down just four with 16 seconds to go and that would be it for their chances. The women's team would ultimately fall, 62-56 and Texas State advances to the Sun Belt Conference Tournament finals.

Skyler Goodwin lead the way for UL with 10 points, Mathis added eight, and Burton and Fields each chipped in seven themselves.

Turnovers really hurt the Cajuns in this game as they committed 16 and failed to turn Texas State over with any consistency as they handled the pressure well, turning the ball over only 10 times.

Texas State will take on Arkansas Little Rock on Sunday at 6pm.

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