2nd Half Run Pushes Grambling State Past TSU Women’s Basketball

GRAMBLING, La. – The Texas Southern women’s basketball team returned to the court for the first time in 12 days as they fought hard but fell victim to a second-half run by Grambling State in a 65-46 loss to Grambling State on Saturday afternoon.

Both teams were neck-and-neck to open the first quarter as the contest was tied at 11-all with 38 seconds remaining. Grambing’s Candice Parramore broke the tie with a jumper on the ensuing possession and a TSU turnover led to another Parramore basket for the 15-11 GSU lead.

TSU came out on fire to open the second quarter with a 6-0 run as Quatera Limbrick, Lauren Lewis and Ataiya Bridges all scored to give TSU a 17-15 lead. Grambling State answered with a three-pointer to move ahead 18-17 and sparked a 9-1 run over the next 3:15 as TSU fell behind 24-18. Texas Southern regrouped and closed to within 24-22 over the next minute but the momentum was short-lived as Grambling State outscored TSU 8-4 over the final 3:19 for a 32-26 Grambling lead at halftime.

Limbrick and Demetrius Lewis combined to score the first three points of the third quarter as TSU found themselves down 32-29 with 7:21 remaining. However, Grambling State went on a brief 5-0 run to move ahead by eight 37-29 but Bridges and Limbrick both answered with baskets on the offensive end to pull within 37-33 at the 3:42 mark. In what would be the theme of the game, Grambling answered once again with a three-pointer on its next possession and began to pull away after outscoring TSU 12-5 over the final 3:38 of the quarter for a 49-38 lead entering the fourth quarter.

Limbrick opened the fourth quarter with a three-pointer to pull within 49-41 but Grambling State countered with an 11-0 run and took advantage of a cold streak by TSU over the next four minutes offensively to pull away for good.

Limbrick led the way with 17 points while Bridges had a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.

TSU is back in action on Monday at 5 p.m. against Jackson State in Jackson, Miss.