HOUSTON – The Lady Tigers of Texas Southern University led from start to finish Monday as they defeated Alabama State 76-48.
At TSU's H&PE Arena, Joyce Kennerson scored a game-high 28 points to lead the Lady Tigers (17-10, 12-4 SWAC), who clinched a top-four finish in the Southwestern Athletic Conference standings. By finishing among the top four teams in the conference, TSU will a first-round quarterfinal on campus when the Toyota SWAC Championship Tournament begins March 6.
Kaitlyn Palmer scored 16 points and recorded three steals for the Lady Tigers. Shamyiah Smith led Alabama State (8-19, 6-10 SWAC) with 14 points.
Only two days removed from scoring 31 points while shooting better than 50 percent from the field, Kennerson had a somewhat frustrating evening shooting the basketball Monday, as she was only 6-of-19 from the field. The junior from Port Arthur, Texas (Memorial) made up for missed points on the free throw line, where she sank 14 out of her 17 attempts.
The Lady Tigers pulled away early, as they scored 11 unanswered points in the second quarter to take 30-9 lead with 5:34 remaining until halftime. TSU held Alabama State to 1-of-13 shooting from the floor during the second quarter, and took a 40-18 lead into halftime.
Though the Lady Tigers dominated the game, Monday's contest was far from aesthetically pleasing to most basketball fans. The 2-hour, 17-minute game was TSU's longest of the season, with the teams combining for 58 fouls and 72 free throw attempts.
The Lady Tigers took 37 free throw attempts, while Alabama State went to the line 35 times. Five Alabama State players fouled out of the contest, as did both of TSU's centers – Taylor Robinson and Catherine Okwilagwe.
Robinson scored eight points and pulled in seven rebounds for the Lady Tigers, while teammate Chynna Ewing contributed six points and six rebounds. Nycolle Smith pulled in a game-high nine rebounds for TSU to go along with two points.
For the second game in a row, TSU's Makenna Pouengue scored five points, which is her season high total against an NCAA Division I opponent.
Okwilagwe blocked two shots, giving her five blocked shots for the weekend. She also grabbed five points and scored four points on 2-of-2 shooting; Okwilagwe has shot 15-of-17 from the floor (88 percent) over TSU's last six games.
The win marked the fifth consecutive triumph for the Lady Tigers over Alabama State in the matchup of the SWAC's two most recent women's basketball tournament champions. TSU has not lost to Alabama State since the Lady Hornets' 2016 conference title.
The Lady Tigers travel eastward for their final two regular season games this week. TSU visits Southern on Thursday before concluding the regular season Saturday at Alcorn State.
Courtesy: TSU Athletics
At TSU's H&PE Arena, Joyce Kennerson scored a game-high 28 points to lead the Lady Tigers (17-10, 12-4 SWAC), who clinched a top-four finish in the Southwestern Athletic Conference standings. By finishing among the top four teams in the conference, TSU will a first-round quarterfinal on campus when the Toyota SWAC Championship Tournament begins March 6.
Kaitlyn Palmer scored 16 points and recorded three steals for the Lady Tigers. Shamyiah Smith led Alabama State (8-19, 6-10 SWAC) with 14 points.
Only two days removed from scoring 31 points while shooting better than 50 percent from the field, Kennerson had a somewhat frustrating evening shooting the basketball Monday, as she was only 6-of-19 from the field. The junior from Port Arthur, Texas (Memorial) made up for missed points on the free throw line, where she sank 14 out of her 17 attempts.
The Lady Tigers pulled away early, as they scored 11 unanswered points in the second quarter to take 30-9 lead with 5:34 remaining until halftime. TSU held Alabama State to 1-of-13 shooting from the floor during the second quarter, and took a 40-18 lead into halftime.
Though the Lady Tigers dominated the game, Monday's contest was far from aesthetically pleasing to most basketball fans. The 2-hour, 17-minute game was TSU's longest of the season, with the teams combining for 58 fouls and 72 free throw attempts.
The Lady Tigers took 37 free throw attempts, while Alabama State went to the line 35 times. Five Alabama State players fouled out of the contest, as did both of TSU's centers – Taylor Robinson and Catherine Okwilagwe.
Robinson scored eight points and pulled in seven rebounds for the Lady Tigers, while teammate Chynna Ewing contributed six points and six rebounds. Nycolle Smith pulled in a game-high nine rebounds for TSU to go along with two points.
For the second game in a row, TSU's Makenna Pouengue scored five points, which is her season high total against an NCAA Division I opponent.
Okwilagwe blocked two shots, giving her five blocked shots for the weekend. She also grabbed five points and scored four points on 2-of-2 shooting; Okwilagwe has shot 15-of-17 from the floor (88 percent) over TSU's last six games.
The win marked the fifth consecutive triumph for the Lady Tigers over Alabama State in the matchup of the SWAC's two most recent women's basketball tournament champions. TSU has not lost to Alabama State since the Lady Hornets' 2016 conference title.
The Lady Tigers travel eastward for their final two regular season games this week. TSU visits Southern on Thursday before concluding the regular season Saturday at Alcorn State.
Courtesy: TSU Athletics