Youthful Islanders Show Improvement in Defeat to Texas State

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Texas State used just one big quarter to push past the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi women's basketball in a 56-46 final Wednesday in the Dugan Wellness Center.
 
The Islanders (2-6) led the Bobcats (2-2) at half 22-21 when Texas State posted a 19-9 third quarter, which ended up being the difference in the game. The Bobcats shot 7-for-10 from the field and 3-for-3 from long-range in the third.
 
For the night, the Islanders held Texas State to a .360 shooting clip. A&M-Corpus Christi's press bothered the Bobcats and forced 26 turnovers. The Islanders also swatted away a season-high seven blocks.
 
Freshman Paige Allen registered a game-high 15 points and four steals. She was 7-of-11 from the field to lead the offense. Sophomore Hayle Campbell scored seven points and sophomore Olivia Dowden six. Sophomore Alecia Westbrook grabbed eight rebounds.
 
The Bobcats were guided by Lauryn Thompson who turned in a double-double of 12 points and 12 rebounds. Da'Nasia Hood and Kennedy Taylor each netted 14 points.
 
A&M-Corpus Christi led 7-4 early after a jumper by Campbell. A lay-up by Westbrook extended the lead to 11-6 at the 3:04 mark. Texas State made a pair of free throws near the end of the quarter, but the Islanders led 11-8 after the first.
 
The Bobcats opened the second quarter on a 5-0 run to go up 13-11, but the Islanders responded with a 7-0 run, which included a three by Allen to regain an 18-11 advantage with 5:50 to go. Texas State came back to tie it 20-20, but a basket by junior Alexandria Pollard gave the Islanders a 22-21 lead at the intermission.
 
A&M-Corpus Christi started the third strong with a three by Dowden and a jumper by Campbell to lead 27-21 with 7:08 remaining. Still up 29-23, the Bobcats caught fire and used a big 11-0 run to dart ahead 34-29 with 1:50 left. They extended it to 40-31 on a three-pointer on their final possession of the quarter.
 
The Bobcats led by as many as 16 points in the fourth, but the Islanders never showed any quit. They forced turnovers in the closing minutes to get the gap back down to 10, including back-to-back fast-break lay-ups by Allen.
 
A&M-Corpus Christi will play its final non-conference game Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Dugan Wellness Center.
 
NOTES
- The Islanders are now 199-141 all-time at home and 45-26 in the Dugan Wellness Center.
 
- A&M-Corpus Christi entered the game ranked third in the SLC in blocks as a team with 3.4 per game. The Islanders rejected seven blocks in the contest, which topped their previous season-high of six at Wichita State. Pollard blocked a career-high four.
 
- By forcing 26 turnovers, the Islanders outscored the Bobcats 25-17 in points off turnovers.
 
- Allen entered the game leading the conference in steals with 3.6 per game and grabbed four in the match. The 15 points were the second-most for her on the season. She tallied her sixth double-figure scoring game in eight outings. It was the fourth time that the recorded at least four steals.
 
- Westbrook began the night leading the conference in rebounding with 8.7 per game and was right near par with eight in the contest.
 
- With two more three-pointers made, Dowden has drained eight in the last three games where she's shooting 8-for-21 (.381).
 
Stay Social
- Keep up with the women's basketball program via its Facebook page (Islanders Women's Basketball) and follow the program on Twitter (@Islanders_WBB) and Instagram (@IslandersWBB).
 


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