South Alabama women’s basketball secured a 64-59 victory over Texas State in San Marcos on Saturday, ending a 10-game losing streak and marking the program’s first 10-win season since 2021.
The game started with both teams struggling offensively. In the opening five minutes of the first quarter, the Jaguars and Bobcats combined for 11 turnovers. Texas State did not score until there were just over three minutes left in the first quarter and made their first field goal with less than two minutes remaining.
Texas State led early in the second quarter with seven points to South Alabama’s two, but South Alabama responded with an 8-0 run, forcing six turnovers from Texas State. The Jaguars held a narrow lead at halftime, up 26-23.
South Alabama built momentum in the third quarter, beginning with a 12-2 run over four minutes and finishing the period shooting 80 percent from the field. Chrysta Narcisse contributed six points during this stretch, and Tamara Ortiz added a three-pointer.
Cordasia Harris extended South Alabama’s lead to 17 points early in the fourth quarter with a driving layup. However, Texas State narrowed the gap by outscoring South Alabama 25-13 down the stretch, including a late 9-0 run within the last two minutes. Despite this push from Texas State, Harris secured an offensive rebound and made a jumper with under eight seconds left to seal the win for South Alabama.
This win gives South Alabama double-digit victories for the first time since Terry Fowler’s team finished 13-13 in the 2020-21 season. Head coach Yolisha Jackson now has her highest number of Sun Belt Conference wins (three) during her three seasons leading the program.
Cordasia Harris collected 10 rebounds, her first game with double-digit boards since January against Coastal Carolina. Four players from South Alabama recorded at least six rebounds each—a first for them in Sun Belt play this season. Daniela Gonzalez scored 14 points along with seven rebounds and two steals, shooting efficiently both inside and beyond the arc.
Head coach Yolisha Jackson commented on her team’s effort: “I’m really proud of our team today. There wasn’t just one or two people who stood out – it was a total team effort. To be on the other side of so many close games, it was really cool to see our kids figure out how to win instead of playing not to lose. To have that happen as late as it is, I think it could do some cool things for us as we head to Pensacola.”
Reflecting on reaching double-digit wins for the first time in five years, Jackson said: “It means a lot, and it means a lot with this group and all the adversity that we’ve been through. Our entire staff is trying to build a program the right way, and sometimes when you do it the right way, it takes a little bit longer. You have to have great patience, but it feels good to turn the corner and to get double-digit wins, especially with this group.”
Jackson also praised Cordasia Harris’s performance: “I thought Lu was really outstanding down the stretch, and she’s been trying to get herself back, and I think she really got herself back today. That last rebound that she snatched and put in was the kiss on top of it. I’m super proud of her and her play.”
South Alabama will return home next week to host Southern Miss at Mitchell Center.
For more information about South Alabama women’s basketball visit usajaguars.com or follow @SouthAlabamaWBB on X (formerly Twitter), /SouthAlabamaAthletics on Facebook or @SouthAlabamaWBB on Instagram.
