Lady Tigers defeat Arkansas–Pine Bluff 62-49 to snap losing streak

HOUSTON – The Lady Tigers of Texas Southern University snapped a two-game losing streak Saturday with a 62-49 win over visiting Arkansas–Pine Bluff.
 
Niya Mitchell recorded her seventh double-double in her last eight games, scoring 14 points and pulling in 18 rebounds to lead the Lady Tigers (11-13, 7-6 SWAC). Mitchell also tallied a game-high six steals.
 
Marquia Turner came off the TSU bench to score 13 points, while Makenna Pouengue and Isis Lane scored eight points for the Lady Tigers. Lane also blocked four shots in the game.
 
Noe’ll Taylor scored 12 points to lead Arkansas–Pine Bluff (5-16, 2-12 SWAC).
 
With the win, the Lady Tigers moved into a tie for sixth place with Alabama A&M in the Southwestern Athletic Conference standings. TSU faces eighth-place Mississippi Valley State on Monday.
 
TSU led 19-14 after one period of play, as the Lady Tigers shot 69 percent (9 of 13) from the floor in the opening 10 minutes. The visiting Lady Lions clawed their way back into the game in the second quarter, as they held TSU to 1-of-18 shooting and only six points during the second 10 minutes. The teams went into halftime tied at 25-25.
 
The Lady Tigers reclaimed control of the game in the third period by scoring nine unanswered points to take 36-29 lead with 3:57 left to play in the quarter. That run was part of a stretch between the 8:11 and 2:22 marks of the period that saw the Lady Tigers outscore Pine Bluff 14-2 and take 41-31 lead.
 
The home team opened the fourth quarter with five consecutive points to take a 50-35 lead. Only once in the period would Pine Bluff cut the lead to single-digits.
 
The Lady Tigers outrebounded Arkansas–Pine Bluff 51-33 and pulled in 25 offensive rebounds. TSU outscored the Lady Lions 27-0 in second-chance points.
 
TSU returns to action Monday when the Lady Tigers host Mississippi Valley State. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.