NCAA Tourney: Kentucky State Ends Season With 66-56 Loss to Nova Southeastern

JACKSON, Tennessee -- In the NCAA Championship Tournament for just the third time in school history, the seventh-seeded Kentucky State University women's basketball team fell short of an upset victory over two-seed Nova Southeastern University, 66-56, on Friday, March 13, at Union University's Fred Delay Gymnasium.

In the first half, the Thorobrettes (22-6) came out strong, getting on the scoreboard first with a 3-pointer from senior Brieona Warner. Nova Southeastern (25-5) responded with a 3-pointer of their own from Danielle Robinson but KSU rattled off six straight to take an early 9-3 lead with 15 minutes left in the half.

Shaquanda Wiggins was a huge boost off the bench for KSU in the first half, picking up four points, four rebounds, two steals and a pair of blocks. KSU held the lead for 13:11 in the first half compared to just 43 seconds for NSU.

With just 33 seconds remaining in the half and the teams knotted at 28-28, Shaia Horton fouled NSU's Jessica Valley who split a pair of free-throws to put the Sharks ahead 29-28 heading into the locker rooms.

In the second half, Nova Southeastern turned up their defensive pressure, forcing eight KSU turnovers, and, on the offensive end, got hot from 3-point range, going 6-of-12 from beyond the arc. Forward Jasmine Wilkins led the way for NSU, picking up 12 points and 11 rebounds in the final 20 minutes. Wilkins finished with 21 points and 18 rebounds, both game-highs.

NSU outscored KSU 37-28 in the second half.

Warner continued her impressive postseason stretch to lead Kentucky State with a team-high 20 points to go along with four rebounds and a pair of steals. Wiggins finished with 12 points and eight rebounds. Shayla Moore added eight points, seven rebounds, a block and a steal. Horton finished with seven points.

NSU had four starters score in double figures. Robinson finished with 16 points and a pair of steals but also had six turnovers. Alexis Murphy and Monaye Merritt added 11 points each. Jessica Valley finished with five points, six rebounds and five assists.

Kentucky State finishes with its best overall record since the 1996-97 season, their third in the SIAC, when the Thorobrettes finished 25-6 and won the SIAC Championship. After defeating Alabama A&M, 78-63, in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament that season, KSU was bounced by Delta State, 83-61, in the second round. In 2007-08, Kentucky State ear
ned its first at-large bid to the tournament after falling in the SIAC Championship final to Tuskegee, 59-55. Once again pitted against Delta State, the Thorobrettes fell to the Lady Statesmen, 76-34, to finish their season at 19-12.

BOX SCORE

COURTESY KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION