8 | The University Star | Sports | Tuesday November 12, 2013
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Texas State defeats Huston–Tillotson in season home opener By Quixem Ramirez Sports Reporter @quixem
After missing 27 of 35 shots in the first half against Huston-Tillotson, the Texas State women’s basketball team made 52.9 per-
Senior forward Jasmine Baugus makes the last basket Nov. 8 against Huston– Tillotson. The Bobcats won 73–45.
cent of its shots in the second half to defeat the Rams 73–45. The Bobcats outscored Huston–Tillotson by 25 points in the second half. Texas State has beaten Huston-Tillotson nine consecutive times by an average of 36.6 points per game. “We weren’t always on the same page,” said Coach Zenarae Antoine. “Eventually we found our stride and rhythm, and we clearly understood our expectations for the game. I just don’t know if it’s indicative of the future.” Texas State converted 27 turnovers into 23 points while limiting the Rams to four points in transition and three assists. Huston–Tillotson freshman guard Danielle Franklin was the only player who made more than 50 percent of her shots. “The ability to move our feet was really important,” Antoine said. “We put them into positions where they had to take tougher shots after we did a good job defending them.” Redshirt junior forward Jacqueline Jeffcoat tallied 11 points and four rebounds in her first career start for the Bobcats.
Chris Motz | Staff Photographer Redshirt junior forward Jacqueline Jeffcoat shoots a basket during the first game of the season against Huston–Tillotson. “Coach Antoine brought me here for a reason,” Jeffcoat said. “It’s not just to shoot 3-pointers. I need to get boards and go to the basket. Most scouts say I’m a shooter, so I decided to attack, get to the basket and score.” Huston–Tillotson’s zone defense put the Bobcats’ shooters into the corners, where they made four of 19 3-pointers in the first half. Antoine said the improved ball movement in the second half turned open 3-pointers into more efficient shots. Texas State outscored Huston–Tillotson by 22 points in the paint. Senior guard Kaylan Martin
missed seven of eight shots, but led the Bobcats’ transition offense. Martin added nine assists with zero turnovers and six rebounds in 29 minutes of play. “Kaylan (Martin) is a critical component to our team, whether she’s on the court or on the sidelines,” Antoine said. “She’s really good with her fellow teammates. There’s not a lot that shakes her.” Freshman guard Kaitlin Walla missed two of her three shots, but added four rebounds and an assist in 16 minutes off the bench. “My first couple shots didn’t go down, and I wanted to con-
tribute somehow,” Walla said. “I found that in different avenues. The little things are what win games—getting rebounds and making the hustle plays.” With leading scorer Diamond Ford graduating, Jeffcoat and redshirt sophomore center Kileah Mays, who led the team with nine rebounds, are pieces of a system that Antoine is refining. “We showed our fans in the second half what we were capable of,” Jeffcoat said. “We got our offense going. You saw how quickly we could change, and that’s what scary. That’s what everybody should be afraid about.”
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Bobcats prepare to face coach’s former team By Samuel Rubbelke Sports Reporter @SamuelRubbelke
Coach Danny Kaspar will encounter his former team, Stephen F. Austin, for the Bobcats’ home opener at Strahan Coliseum Tuesday. In 13 years of coaching the men’s basketball program, Kaspar led the Lumberjacks to 246 total victories. He helped SFA lead the nation twice in defensive scoring, in 2011 and 2012. “I would not have scheduled this game had I known I would be working here,” Kaspar said. “It’s very tough playing your old team. I love those kids over there. Except for the conference championship loss, it was a dream season. These are very cerebral, hardworking, tough young
men. We have to come play.” Kaspar is currently ranked 16th in the country with a total win percentage of .706 and 26th overall in total wins. Kaspar and the Bobcats will face seven former players from the SFA team. “I can tell them this guy (on the other team) wants to do this, and he wants to do that,” Kaspar said. “I don’t know how much these guys take that information and use it. I can give them that information, but I can’t go out there and guard those kids.” Among those SFA players are Jacob Parker, Nikola Gajic and Desmond Haymon. Haymon scored 17 points against UT–Tyler, Parker contributed 19, and Gajic added 14. SFA recorded 24 turnovers and controlled the paint outscoring
UT-Tyler 32–18. The post presence provided 16 more points in secondchance opportunities. Haymon was the Lumberjack’s third leading scorer last year, averaging 10.6 points per contest. Gajic’s 14 points marks his first-career double-figure point performance for the Lumberjacks. Against Houston last Friday, Texas State was led by sophomore forward Emani Gant in his first career Division 1 game. Gant converted 9-11 field goals from the floor, scoring a team-high 19 points. He led the team in assists with four and steals with three, while compiling four rebounds. “Offensively, I feel comfortable in this system,” Gant said. “It’s because my teammates are there for me. They do a good job throw-
ing into me, and I feel comfortable throwing it back out knowing they’ll make the right decision. I just pride myself on being strong in the paint.” The Bobcats went on a 15–5 run against Houston to make it a one-possession game with 2:07 remaining on the clock, after being down 67-55 with 10 minutes left in the second half. After allowing 46 points in the first half, Texas State limited the Houston offense to 30 points in the second. Houston was up 73-70 and with 22 seconds left in the game when guard Danuel House made a threepointer to seal the Cougars’ victory. House ended with 24 points and eight rebounds, giving the Cougars a six-point lead before the shot clock expired.
Last year’s leading scorer for the Bobcats senior forward Joel Wright accounted for 18 points and eight rebounds during the matchup against Houston. Senior guard Phil Hawkins finished with 10 points. “It was a very difficult transition,” Hawkins said. “As everyone’s adjusting it’s just something that you get used to. You go from doing whatever you want to having order and structure. It’s all about being focused and paying attention to detail.” Gant and Wright combined for 37 points and 12 rebounds against Houston, this marked the first time two players tallied 18-plus points in a single game since Feb. 23 against Lamar. All 10 Bobcats recorded at least one rebound in their playing time.