University Star

Texas State women’s basketball will attempt to do what it can to turn the season around in its final two road games before the WAC Tournament.

The Bobcats travel to Seattle University Thursday night and to the University of Idaho for a Saturday afternoon game.

“We just got to finish the season off strong,” said guard Diamond Ford. “And the things we know we’re having problems with, we have to fix them. We need to guard the paint better and become more consistent with our free throws. We’ve worked on free throws a lot during practice this week, and after the road trip, we should be in a better flow.”

The Redhawks are atop the WAC Conference standings with a 12-3 conference record. Guard Sylvia Shephard ranks best in the WAC in the steals category, averaging 3.3 steals per game. Kacie Sowell further leads the WAC in defensive rebounding, grabbing 6.5 per contest. Sowell has managed two back-to-back 20-point games against University of Texas-Arlington and Louisiana Tech University in her last two games, totaling 49 points.  Seattle is coming off a four game winning streak, its second longest this season.

“We’re prepared during this week for the amount of defensive pressure against Seattle,” Ford said. “Just pressuring the ball and going after passing through the passing lane. I think patience will be an important factor with protecting the ball.”

Texas State allowed 42 points in the paint against Seattle earlier this season at home, losing 70-58. Senior Brenda Adhiambo managed a double-double, 14 points and 12 rebounds. The Redhawks scored 15 points off 19 Bobcat turnovers. Seattle’s bench outscored the Bobcats’ 10-1.

“Every team has a post presence,” Ezeh said. “I just got to work hard and keep my momentum going to Seattle and playing against (Sowell). It’s going to be a good game down low. We’re two good post players, and it’s going to be a battle to the end. I feel like we’re a better match-up against each other.”

The Bobcats then battle the Idaho Vandals, a team ranked third in the WAC conference standings. In its previous 72-60 losing effort against the Vandals, Texas State allowed 36 points in the paint. Junior Alyssa Charlston scored a double-double with 14 points and 17 rebounds in the game.  Sophomore Stacey Barr is coming off a double-double performance and her second highest point total this season against Louisiana Tech last week, 21 points and 11 rebounds.

The Bobcats’ bench was outscored by a 22-6 margin. Idaho went on a 15-4 scoring run before halftime after Texas State took an early first half lead. Texas State was unable to regain the lead for the rest of the game, at one point trailing 21 to Idaho.

“It’s going to come down to us improving defensively,” said Coach Zenarae Antoine. “I want to get better every single game. We have to limit points in the paint. A lot of people try to adjust to our offensive prowess, and inserting Ezeh is one way to do that—but if (Seattle) finds other ways to exploit us, they’ll go to that.”