Feb. 19, 2005

SAN MARCOS - Bridgette Brackens scored 14 points to lead the Lady Cardinals, but Lamar fell short at Texas State, 85-67, in Southland Conference women's basketball action Saturday afternoon at Strahan Coliseum.

Lamar dropped to 8-16 overall and 2-11 in SLC play. Texas State improved to 12-12 overall and 9-4 in SLC play. The Lady Cardinals stay on the road for a 6 p.m. game Wednesday at Texas-San Antonio.

Leading 50-30 at halftime, Texas State quickly pushed the lead to 23 points, 55-32, on a three-pointer by Tamara Thompson at 17:31. Lamar slowly whittled the lead to 13, 63-50, on a conventional three point play by Jana Mustard at 8:29.

Trailing 68-56, Lamar scored seven straight points to close to within seven, 70-63, with 5:28 left in the game. LaToya Carson hit a pair of free throws and Bridgette Brackens nailed a three-pointer and converted a layup. That's as close as the Lady Cards would get the rest of the way. The Lady Bobcats outscored Lamar 15-4 to end the game.

Brackens, who scored a career-best 21 points in Thursday's loss to Northwestern State, was 6-of-8 from the field, including 2-of-3 from three-point range, in scoring her 14 points. Chelsea Gugliotta scored 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the field and grabbed eight rebounds off the bench. LaToya Carson added 13 points.

Lamar shot 49.1 percent from the field for the game, 28.6 percent from 3-point range and 65 percent from the free throw line. The Lady Cards committed 21 turnovers, which led to 22 Texas State points.

Tori Talbert led Texas State with 32 points on 11-of-24 shooting from the field and 10-of-13 from the free throw line. She added eight rebounds and three steals. Tamara Thompson scored 20 points on 7-of-8 shooting from the field, including a perfect 4-of-4 from 3-point range. Jeana Hoffman chipped in 11 points.

Texas State shot 50 percent from the field, 66.7 percent from 3-point range and 65.4 percent from the free throw line. The Lady Bobcats outrebounded Lamar 35 to 32.