Big Green Fall in Tough Game to Texas State

Sunday, December 15

Hanover, N.H.

2:00 PM

Dartmouth College

5-4,0-0Ivy League

Texas State

6-2,0-0Sun Belt

Texas St.

Dartmouth

Sophomore Veronica Kelly

Photo by: Doug Austin

12/15/2019 4:38:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Dartmouth raced back into the game in the third quarter

By: Mike Miezejeski

HANOVER, N.H. – Dartmouth erased a 10-point deficit and took the lead in the third, but Texas State outscored the Big Green 17-6 in the fourth to come away with a 61-51 win at Leede Arena Sunday afternoon.

The Big Green fall at home for the first time this season and are now 5-4 on the season, while the Bobcats extend their winning streak to four games and pick up its first road win of the year to improve to 6-2 and take the first meeting between the two programs.

Asha Taylor was the only Dartmouth player in double figures with 12, sinking four 3-pointers. Annie McKenna posted nine points, going 7-8 from the free throw line. Veronica Kelly tallied a career-high nine points and sunk her first collegiate triple in the third quarter. Katie Douglas hit two from beyond the arc and finished with eight points.

"The focus of this game was to protect our house," said Belle Koclanes, the Gail Koziara Boudreaux '82 and Family Head Coach of Women's Basketball. "We know Texas State has solid post and guard play and is a hard-working team. We're doing some really good things defensively, but rebounding hurt us and we need to take better care of the basketball and figure out our offense as the season goes on."

The first quarter was played at a slow pace. Dartmouth was held without a point through the first three minutes, but Douglas got the scoring started with a three and the Big Green built a 7-1 lead at the 4:50 mark. Texas State slowly closed the gap until three-straight 3-pointers in the final 33 seconds, two by the Bobcats and one from Dartmouth, tied the score at 13 after one.

Texas State started the second on a 9-1 run over five minutes to take a 24-14 advantage. Taylor answered with a pair of deep balls to make it a six-point game. Jimena Abejon then sunk a jumper, but the Bobcats closed the half with the final two baskets to head into the break ahead, 30-22.

With Texas State looking like they were in control up 10 with 8:10 to go in the third, Dartmouth took over. The Big Green rapidly closed the gap by outscoring the Bobcats 20-9 in the remainder of the quarter. Nine straight points, capped off by an Elle Louie 3-point play, brought it to just a one-point game, 35-34, at 4:11. Veronica Kelly scored all nine of her points in the third which included her first triple as the home team took a 45-44 lead heading to the fourth.

With Dartmouth's core in foul trouble, Texas State took advantage and won the fourth, 17-6, to put the game away. Asha Taylor made her fourth 3-pointer with 6:28 to go to make it a one-point game, but the Bobcats finished the game scoring 12 of the final 15 points.

Dartmouth stays at home for its State Championship game against New Hampshire Wednesday night at 7 p.m.