Feb. 16, 2008

Final Stats

BEAUMONT - A 17-2 Texas State run in the first half helped overcome a tough road environment as the Bobcats held a lead for the entire second half en route to a 69-53 win over East Division leader Lamar on Saturday.

The win keeps Texas State (16-8, 10-1 SLC) ahead of the pack in the Southland Conference regular season title race while Lamar (14-9, 6-4 SLC) dropped its third straight game.

The Bobcats held a narrow 7-4 lead early on until Lamar's defense put a clamp on the Bobcats with a 15-5 run over an 8:55 span that put the Lady Cardinals on top 19-12 with 9:05 left in the first half.

Ashley Cole and Joyce Ekworomadu brought the Bobcats storming back, combining for 10 points on a 17-2 Texas State run that put the `Cats up 34-24 with less than three minutes to play in the first half. The Bobcats ended the first half with a 36-28 lead, holding Lamar to just two field goals over the final 6:30 of the period.

The lead grew to 11 out of the break until five straight points from Lamar's Brittney Williams cut the lead to 46-40 four minutes into the second half. Texas State cut off the rally from that point, pushing the lead back to double digits with a 9-2 run in response.

Lamar cut the lead to eight midway through the half, but Tamarra Evans-Sluga's three with just over five minutes remaining snuffed out the comeback bid as Texas State outscored Lamar 14-6 over the game's final 10 minutes to finish with the 69-53 win.

Ekworomadu led all scorers with 24 points while Chika Ofoegbu led Texas State with eight rebounds.

Brittney Williams finished with 16 points to lead Lamar, who also got 11 points from Nikki Williams. Tamara Abalde, who entered the game averaging over 20 points per game in conference play, finished just 2-of-12 from the field and finished with seven points and nine rebounds.