Women's Basketball Ends Heartbreaking Season With Triple Overtime Loss

Diamond Ford and Kelsey Krupa led the team with 18 points apiece in a game that saw three overtimes, 12 lead changes and 10 ties, but Texas State's fighting effort came up short Saturday afternoon, falling in a 92-89 decision to Sam Houston State at Johnson Coliseum in the regular season finale. Aimee Hilburn ended her Bobcat career with a career-high 16 rebounds as well as 9 points before fouling out early in the first overtime period.

The two teams combined for 52 turnovers and 49 fouls.

Texas State trailed 29-27 at halftime, and Hilburn tied the game with a layup coming out of the break. The tight game went point-for-point until the 13:30 mark when Sam Houston State scored six unanswered point to take a 47-39 lead.

With six minutes to play the Bobcats took the lead and held it until the 20 second mark when Brittany Brooks nailed a three for Sam Houston State to make it a one point game. Chika Ofoegbu was fouled on the ensuing posession and made her free throws to bring the game back to a three point Bobcat advantage. Brittany Brooks answered right back with another three point shot from the same spot to tie the game and send it to overtime. The senior Brooks had a spectacular game for the Bearkats.

Sam Houston made Texas State chase the win to close out the first five-minute frame after Ray Alexander hit a jumper with 13 seconds on the clock to give the Bearkats a 74-72 edge, but Ford answered on a layup with seven seconds to play to force a second OT.

The second overtime saw the Bobcats in control and then free throws for the Bearkats led to a two point lead. Chika Ofoegbu scored on a layup with 4 seconds left to force a third overtime. The third overtime was close all the way with Sam Houston State capitalizing at the end. Up three with under a minute to go, Mallory Williams hit a three to cut the lead to one. After two made free throws from Sam Houston State, the guard Williams got another shot, this time finding only rim.

Texas State ends the season with a 7-19 overall record and a 3-12 mark in the league. Sam Houston State improves to 11-17 and 8-8.

-Will McGinnis, KTSW Sports Staff Writer