STATESBORO - Da'Nasia Hood registered a career-high 32 points to lead visiting Texas State to a 78-74 Sun Belt Conference victory over host Georgia Southern on Thursday evening at Hanner Fieldhouse.
The Bobcats improved to 7-9 overall and 2-2 in the Sun Belt with the victory, while Georgia Southern fell to 10-5 overall and 1-2 in the Sun Belt. The game was a rematch of the first round in the 2021 Sun Belt Tournament which also went to the Bobcats by a 94-61 score.
A Terren Ward three-pointer gave the Eagles a short-lived 7-6 lead early in the first quarter, but Texas State embarked on a 7-0 run to take control early. The Bobcats led by as many as 13 points, 26-13, in the first quarter.
Georgia Southern rallied in the second quarter, using a 10-2 run to cut the lead to two, 32-30, with 3:40 left in the half, but Texas State stretched the lead back out to six, 41-35, at the break. Hood had 19 of her 32 points in the first half, hitting 8-of-12 shots from the floor.
Texas State shot 64.3% in the third quarter to extend its lead to 10, 65-55, but the Eagles held the Bobcats without a field goal during a seven minute stretch to make it a one-possession game, 73-70, with 1:33 left. Unfortunately, the Eagles did not make a field goal themselves over the game's final four minutes, allowing Texas State to come away with the win.
Terren Ward led the Eagles offensively on the night with 23 points, while Mya Burns chipped in 11 points. Hood was joined in double figures by Kennedy Taylor, who had 10 points and four assists.
Eagle of the Game
Ward hit 10-of-21 shots from the floor en route to her first 20-point game, her second 20+ point performance of the season. She also notched a career-high seven steals on the night.
Stat of the Game
A week after losing the rebounding battle at Coastal Carolina, the Eagles dominated the offensive glass against the Bobcats, enjoying a 14-3 edge in offensive rebounds. That led to a 19-2 edge in second chance points.
Quotables • HEAR FULL POSTGAME COMMENTS FROM COACH HOWARD
Head Coach Anita Howard on the effort of the Bobcats' Da'Nasia Hood tonight
"She was just on fire. We tried to keep a body on here, but it seemed she hit everything that went up. That was tough to guard."
On the quick turnaround to Saturday with UTA
"We have to put this one to bed. This one stung for the players. But now we have to focus on a well-coached UTA team. The good thing is, we have a game on Saturday, and it's in Hanner. The crowd was phenomenal tonight. I wish we could have put a better show on for them, but I hope to see them back out here Saturday. We will be better."
Next Up
The Eagles return to action on Saturday, January 15, hosting UT Arlington in a 2 pm Sun Belt Conference contest from Hanner Fieldhouse
