The Texas State Bobcats women’s basketball team will open their Sun Belt Conference Tournament play against The South Alabama Jaguars at 11:30 a.m. Thursday March 5th, at the Pensacola Bay Center, in Pensacola, Fla.

The Bobcats (11-18, 7-11 Sun Belt) enter as the number eight seed after splitting the regular season series with South Alabama.

Texas State earned a 69-63 road win in the first meeting with the Jaguars before falling 64-59 in the rematch later in the season during the Bobcats  regular season home finale. Both games followed similar scripts with stretches of scoring runs, defensive stops and late possessions carrying extra weight on both sides.

South Alabama (13-17, 5-13 Sun Belt) advanced with a first-round victory and will look to carry that momentum into Thursday’s matchup against the ‘Cats.

The Jaguars ability to control the game’s tempo and defend in the half court proved key in their win over the Bobcats earlier this season. Going into Thursday’s game, the Jaguars will look to replicate their previous execution as they try to extend their season

For Texas State, limiting turnovers and finding consistent scoring in the backcourt will be critical in the tournament’s single-elimination setting.

The winner will advance to the quarterfinal round for a date with the fifth seeded Marshall Thundering Herd, while the loser’s season will come to an end. The game will be available to stream via ESPN+