MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama's women's basketball team (7-8, 2-3) fell to Texas State (6-9, 2-3) 57-44 on Saturday afternoon at the Mitchell Center.  With the Jaguars trailing by just one point two minutes into the fourth quarter, the Bobcats went on a 15-2 run that covered over six minutes to secure the victory.
 
"This is going to be a game that I think we're going to look back on at the end of the season and wish we had over again," said South Alabama head coach Terry Fowler.  "We fought hard and got it to a one-point game, then they went on a 6-0 run and from that point we just didn't have the energy; we expended so much on the comeback.  We missed some assignments and we just didn't make shots that we had available.  It was very disappointing to have this happen."
 
Entering the second half trailing 26-20 South Alabama was able to make it a one-possession game five different times, but Texas State responded by making the next basket in the game to never let the Jaguars take the lead or tie up the score.  A pair of free throws by Colby Davis and a Candice Williams' floater in the lane to start the quarter made it 26-24, and Texas State's Toshua Leavitt made a jumper.  LaNeetra Guillory made a layup following Genesis Perrymond's offensive rebound, and Ti'Aira Pitts made a layup in the following possession.  Another layup by Guillory made the score 32-30, but Kaitlin Walla hit a three-pointer in the next possession.  Shaforia Kines hit a three with 35 seconds left in the quarter to make it a two-point game once again, but Amber Jones hit a buzzer-beating three afterwards.
 
Williams split a pair of free throws to start the fourth quarter, and Davis got a layup to make it 40-39.  The 15-2 run for the Bobcats was started by a three-pointer by Leavitt.  Davis made a jumper with 3:01 left, and the Jags would only score on three free throws by Perrymond in the rest of the game.  South Alabama turned the ball over five times and gave up four offensive rebounds during the run and also was just 2-9 (22.2%) from the field in the quarter.
 
"We still had some opportunities," said Fowler.  "We got the ball inside and had two mishandles and a missed shot, then they go down and make a shot.  From that point on, we weren't able to take advantage of the some opportunities and they really ran the clock down.  We were aggressive and trying to get some steals; we had fouls to give, but unfortunately we weren't able to execute that portion of it and they just grinded the clock down."
 
Texas State scored the first basket of the game a minute into it and never trailed, with the game being tied up just once at 7-7 four minutes into the game.  The Jags trailed 7-2 before Davis got a layup and Williams hit a three.  The Bobcats ended the quarter on an 8-2 run.

The Bobcats would lead as much by seven points in the second quarter.  The Jags made it 23-20 after Davis and Erin Autio both hit jumpers, but Texas State's Taeler Deer hit a three with a few seconds left before halftime.
 
"We just have to make the decision that we are going to play," said Fowler.  "It's not about winning and losing, it's about the everyday work that we do.  You have to put in a certain amount of time for that show up on the court on game day.  Unfortunately when you get to this point — you have short days of practice and you're travelling — you just don't have those opportunities.  We have to fight, and our young ladies need to get some confidence, and the only way we can do that is by having some success."
South Alabama finished the game 30.2% (16-53) from the field, 15.8% (3-19) from three and 69.2% (9-13) at the charity stripe.  Texas State had the edge in rebounding (44-34) that included 12 offensive boards and in points the paint (30-24) while shooting 40.6% (26-64) from the field and 27.8% (5-18) from three while going 0-4 at the free throw line.
 
Davis was the only Jaguar to score in double-digits with 12 points on 5-10 shooting and also had five rebounds, two assists and two steals.  Perrymond had nine points with five rebounds and a game-high three steals, and Chyna Ellis had a game-high two blocks along with six points and five rebounds.
 
South Alabama goes on the road to face the two Arkansas Sun Belt schools, starting with Arkansas State next Thursday at 7:00 p.m.
 
The 2017 Sun Belt Conference Men's and Women's Basketball Championships are scheduled for a week of March Madness in the Big Easy.  New Orleans will once again be home to the two championships that will take place at Lakefront Arena from March 7-12 and ticket books can now be purchased from your our ticket office.  For more information, visit the Sun Belt Conference's championship central websites - Men's Championship – Women's Championship – and be sure to follow the @FunBelt on social media - @SunBelt.
 
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).