NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- A Brianna Lawrence three-pointer with 1:09 left proved to be the difference, as the Tennessee State women’s basketball team came back to drop Tennessee Tech, 67-64, on Wednesday afternoon in the Gentry Center.
The Lady Tigers (8-9, 5-1 OVC) were down by as many as nine with seven minutes to go and held the lead for just 2:33.
TSU had four players finish in double-figures led by Lawrence’s 12. Rachel Allen, Imani Davis and Chelsea Hudson each finished with 11.
Hudson also recorded 10 rebounds for her fifth double-double of the season, and her third straight.
Tennessee Tech (5-15, 2-5 OVC) also had four scorers reach double-figures led by Hannah Goolsby’s 16 – 10 of which came in the first half.
The Golden Eagles made their first five shots to begin the game, and led, 11-6, after the opening four minutes. The Lady Tigers were just 2-of-8 during TTU’s hot start.
The Lady Tigers tied the score three times during the remainder of the first half, but TTU answered each time with hoops to re-take the lead.
The Golden Eagles struck the largest lead of the half, 36-28, with just 1:18 to go, but a freebie by a Jayda Johnson and a buzzer-beater by Jemilah Leonard put the Lady Tigers down by five at the break.
Rebounds (15) and turnovers (10) were all square during the opening 20 minutes, but the Golden Eagles managed to make two more shots (24-22) to account for their slim lead.
TSU made just two field goals during a nine minute stretch in the second half, allowing the Golden Eagles to soar to a nine-point lead. The Lady Tigers quickly found their footing and went on a 9-0 run to tie the game once more at 56 with 5:10 left in the game.
Lawrence canned a coffin corner three to draw even for the sixth time at 60 and Imani Davis converted on a layup following a TTU turnover to give the Lady Tigers the lead for the first time since 18:31 in the first half.
Lawrence came through again a couple of minutes later, hitting another three to put Tennessee State back on top, 65-64, with 1:09 left.
After a couple of TSU free throws, TTU’s Candace Parson had a chance to tie the game, but her three pointer clanked off the iron to seal the win.
The Lady Tigers’ defense held the Golden Eagles to just a 23.3 percent shooting line during the second half and forced 25 turnovers in the game.
Tennessee State will next host Belmont this Saturday, Jan. 24 at 5:30 p.m.
BOX SCORE
COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
No comments:
Post a Comment