University Star

Lindsey Goldstein/Star photo

At 6:40 p.m. everything was going according to plan until the lights went out on Texas State’s pre-game warm-up — literally.

A 35-minute delay — because of a power outage — left the basketball team and the fans in limbo of their second victory of the season. Lights did not cause the 54-48 loss to Louisiana-Monroe, but 30 percent shooting from the floor might have been the reason.

Texas State had chances to take the lead in a game in which they never led and failed to capitalize.

A key 8-0 Warhawks run with Texas State down 29-27 pushed the Bobcats’ deficit back to 10.

The Bobcats relenquished three offensive rebounds when they were down 50-48 and a key charge was called on Diamond Ford’s, freshman guard, drive to the basket. Texas State was unable to recover.

“The times we made runs at them, we were much more active on the defensive end,” said Coach Suzanne Fox. “On offense we were actually going towards the basket, attacking. We’d pass the ball and everyone would stand. There would be no movement. When you do that, you are pretty easy to guard.”

The bright spot of the night for Texas State was Chika Ofoegbu, junior forward. She tallied 17 points and eight rebounds on 8-9 shooting.

However, Ofoegbu had shooting woes from the line and went 1-4 unlike her other teammates. Texas State went 14-23 from the line — nine points the Bobcats could have used for a victory instead of a loss. Kelsey Krupa, sophomore guard who had 16 points against Texas College, shot a dismal 2-11 and ended with eight points.

Louisiana-Monroe guard Priscilla Mbiandja, center Shannisha Williams and center Shannon Davis were a nightmare for the Bobcats inside, putting up 34 rebounds combined.

Mbiandja got a double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds.

The Bobcats’ bench put up a 2-21 shooting performance, totaling 13 points.

“The things we’re going to focus on as a coaching staff is not the shooting because we can’t control that,” Fox said. “We are going to focus on the things we can control like rebounding the basketball. Can we move on offense can we take care of the ball? We’ve got to work on the things that keep you in games — defending and rebounding.”

The Bobcats will take on Southwest Assemblies of God 7 p.m. Monday in Strahan Coliseum.