MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Texas Southern University's Lady Tigers jumped out to a 13-point lead late in the first quarter and never trailed Saturday as they won 55-50 at Alabama State.
Sophomore guard Joyce Kennerson scored a game-high 24 points to lead the Lady Tigers (17-9, 11-4 SWAC), who swept the regular season series from Alabama State for the first time since the 2014-15 season.
The win also broke Texas Southern's second-place tie with Alabama State (11-14, 10-5 SWAC) for second place in the Southwestern Athletic Conference standings. The Lady Tigers can also officially clinch a top-four seed – and the right to host a first-round game in the upcoming Toyota SWAC Basketball Tournament – with one more win in the team's remaining three games.
TSU successfully limited the impact of ASU's Britney Wright, the SWAC's leading scorer and fourth-best rebounder. Wright was held to 12 points (more than five points below her per-game average) and four rebounds on Saturday.
Kaitlyn Palmer scored 13 points for the Lady Tigers; Palmer shot 5-of-6 from the floor, and made two out of her three 3-point attempts.
TSU freshman Chynna Ewing scored five points for the Lady Tigers while also tallying a game-high 10 rebounds and a team-best five assists. Teammate Breasia McElrath scored six points and pulled in seven rebounds.
The Lady Tigers conclude their road trip at Alabama A&M on Monday. The Lady Bulldogs (2-22) are 0-15 in SWAC play, and have yet to defeat an NCAA opponent this season. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The Lady Tigers jumped out to 14-3 lead barely five minutes into the contest as TSU made five of its first seven shots. ASU was 1-of-4 from the field during that same span and committed three turnovers.
A pair of free throws by Chynna Ewing gave the Lady Tigers a 16-3 lead with 3:02 remaining in the opening quarter, while free throws by Nycolle Smith capped TSU's scoring in the first quarter. Texas Southern led 18-6 after the first 10 minutes.
A layup by Smith to open the second period, followed by a putback layup from Ewing gave TSU its largest lead of the game at 22-6 with 8:36 left to play until halftime. A 12-2 ASU run would cut TSU's lead to 24-18 at the period's 1:37 mark, but Kennerson would score the last three points of the period to give TSU a 27-18 halftime lead.
ASU was on the brink of turning the game around after halftime after the Lady Hornets scored nine unanswered points to tie the game at 27 barely two minutes into the third quarter. However, a 7-0 TSU run between the 4:43 and 3:42 marks of the period regained control for the Lady Tigers. Camille Mills, McElrath, and Kennerson knocked down consecutive baskets during the run.
TSU would again build its lead back to double-digits in the fourth quarter, but another late run by the Lady Hornets made it a one-possession game with less than three minutes to play. Daniele Ewert knocked down 3-pointer to cut TSU's lead to 45-43 with 2:43 left in the game.
The Lady Tigers were not able to score on their next possession, but ASU squandered its chance to tie or take the lead with an offensive foul with 1:44 showing on the clock. Palmer then knocked down a 3-pointer on TSU's ensuing possession to all but guarantee the Lady Tigers the victory.
Palmer then gave TSU further breathing room by converting a layup and additional free throw to cap a 6-0 run with 57 seconds left on the clock and stretch the Lady Tiger lead to 51-43.
Courtesy: TSU Athletics
Sophomore guard Joyce Kennerson scored a game-high 24 points to lead the Lady Tigers (17-9, 11-4 SWAC), who swept the regular season series from Alabama State for the first time since the 2014-15 season.
The win also broke Texas Southern's second-place tie with Alabama State (11-14, 10-5 SWAC) for second place in the Southwestern Athletic Conference standings. The Lady Tigers can also officially clinch a top-four seed – and the right to host a first-round game in the upcoming Toyota SWAC Basketball Tournament – with one more win in the team's remaining three games.
TSU successfully limited the impact of ASU's Britney Wright, the SWAC's leading scorer and fourth-best rebounder. Wright was held to 12 points (more than five points below her per-game average) and four rebounds on Saturday.
Kaitlyn Palmer scored 13 points for the Lady Tigers; Palmer shot 5-of-6 from the floor, and made two out of her three 3-point attempts.
TSU freshman Chynna Ewing scored five points for the Lady Tigers while also tallying a game-high 10 rebounds and a team-best five assists. Teammate Breasia McElrath scored six points and pulled in seven rebounds.
The Lady Tigers conclude their road trip at Alabama A&M on Monday. The Lady Bulldogs (2-22) are 0-15 in SWAC play, and have yet to defeat an NCAA opponent this season. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The Lady Tigers jumped out to 14-3 lead barely five minutes into the contest as TSU made five of its first seven shots. ASU was 1-of-4 from the field during that same span and committed three turnovers.
A pair of free throws by Chynna Ewing gave the Lady Tigers a 16-3 lead with 3:02 remaining in the opening quarter, while free throws by Nycolle Smith capped TSU's scoring in the first quarter. Texas Southern led 18-6 after the first 10 minutes.
A layup by Smith to open the second period, followed by a putback layup from Ewing gave TSU its largest lead of the game at 22-6 with 8:36 left to play until halftime. A 12-2 ASU run would cut TSU's lead to 24-18 at the period's 1:37 mark, but Kennerson would score the last three points of the period to give TSU a 27-18 halftime lead.
ASU was on the brink of turning the game around after halftime after the Lady Hornets scored nine unanswered points to tie the game at 27 barely two minutes into the third quarter. However, a 7-0 TSU run between the 4:43 and 3:42 marks of the period regained control for the Lady Tigers. Camille Mills, McElrath, and Kennerson knocked down consecutive baskets during the run.
TSU would again build its lead back to double-digits in the fourth quarter, but another late run by the Lady Hornets made it a one-possession game with less than three minutes to play. Daniele Ewert knocked down 3-pointer to cut TSU's lead to 45-43 with 2:43 left in the game.
The Lady Tigers were not able to score on their next possession, but ASU squandered its chance to tie or take the lead with an offensive foul with 1:44 showing on the clock. Palmer then knocked down a 3-pointer on TSU's ensuing possession to all but guarantee the Lady Tigers the victory.
Palmer then gave TSU further breathing room by converting a layup and additional free throw to cap a 6-0 run with 57 seconds left on the clock and stretch the Lady Tiger lead to 51-43.
Courtesy: TSU Athletics