Texas Southern ended a two-game losing streak with a resounding 85-62 home win over Grambling State Monday evening. Texas Southern's trio of Ciani Cryor, Niya Mitchell and Richelle Velez each scored 22 points while Ataiya Bridges added 15 points and four steals off the bench.
The first quarter featured nine lead changes and four ties. Texas Southern (14-9 overall, 9-3 SWAC) shot 47.1 percent (8-for-17) from the floor in the opening quarter but Grambling (3-21, 2-11) shot 64.3 percent (9-for-14) and led 20-19 after the game's first 10 minutes.
TSU's tightened the screws on defense in the second stanza and forced GSU to commit eight turnovers and shoot 1-for 11-in the quarter. Velez took over in the quarter with her own personal 7-0 run as she scored two layups and a three-pointer for a 28-22 lead. She outscored Grambling 10-5 in the quarter as TSU roared out to a 37-25 halftime lead.
Both teams shot the ball well in the third quarter. TSU led 45-29 with 7:12 remaining in the third quarter but Grambling used an 11-5 spurt to trim TSU's lead to 50-40 with 3:49 on the game clock. Velez, once again, sank a three-point bucket which kick started a 12-2 TSU run to put TSU up 62-42 after three periods. Texas Southern shot-9 for-16 in the third as Velez shot 3-of-4 from behind the three-point line. TSU outscored Grambling 25-17 in the final quarter and led 62-42 after 30 minutes.
Velez swished her sixth three-point basket of the game to give TSU a 69-49 lead with 7:40 on the game clock. The margin grew to 25 (78-53) after TSU had a 9-4 spurt. Three minutes later, Namiko Adams recorded a steal and dished to Bridges for a layup and Texas Southern's largest lead (85-58) of the game with 2:22 remaining.
Cryor scored nine points in the final quarter on 4-for-4 shooting while Bridges added eight points on 2-for-3 field goal shooting and 4-for-4 free throw shooting. Niya Mitchell posted her 12th double-double this season with 22 points and 13 rebounds. Cryor added seven assists to her 22 points.
Texas Southern outscored Grambling State 42-18 in the paint and 12-2 in fast break points as Justice Coleman scored 22 points to lead GSU.
Texas Southern's next ball game is at Mississippi Valley State on Saturday, Feb. 22. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.
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Courtesy: TSU Athletics