LEXINGTON, Kentucky -- Brianna Lawrence poured in 16 points, but the Tennessee State women’s basketball team’s historic season ended, Friday, with a, 97-52, loss to Kentucky in the Opening Round of the NCAA Tournament.
Briana Morrow added 11 points for TSU (18-13), while UK (24-9) had six players finish in double-figures led by Linnae Harper’s 16.
The Lady Tigers shot 26 percent for the game (18-of-69) and had 26 turnovers. UK edged the Lady Tigers in rebounds, 52 to 34, and went to the free throw line 42 times.
Lawrence got TSU off to a good start by nailing the team’s first jumper of the game, but the hoop was part of a 1-for-13 start from the field for the Lady Tigers. The TSU dry-spell allowed UK to go on a 19-1 run to take a 16-point lead early in the contest.
Jayda Johnson finally ended the stretch with a corner three-pointer with 11:33 to go in the first half, but the Wildcats responded with 10 straight point to move ahead, 29-6.
Lawrence provided the highlights of the first half for the Lady Tigers and canned back-to-back three-pointers. Her second cut the lead to 21 with 6:19 to play before halftime.
The Wildcats eased up on the full-court press to end the first period, allowing Tennessee State to string together an 11-3 run that featured three-point shots from Rachel Allen, Johnson and Lawrence.
UK scored the last five points of the half and went into the locker room ahead, 50-25.
TSU was just 9-of-34 (26 percent) from the floor during the opening 20 minutes, but was deadly from deep, nailing 6-of-12.
Like the opening half, TSU got on the board first to begin the second with a Chelsea Hudson layup, but UK immediately countered with a pair of free throws on the other end to re-gain momentum.
The Wildcats later went on a 12-2 run to pad the lead to 40 when UK’s Alexis Jennings converted on a layup at the 8:46 mark. The Lady Tigers responded by scoring six straight points thanks to a technical foul on UK. The ensuing free throws made the score, 82-48, with 7:33 to go in the game.
The Wildcats closed the game on a 13-3 run and walked away with a 45-point win.
Tennessee State’s season comes to a close in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament, while Kentucky moves on to face Dayton, Sunday.
FINAL STATS BOOK
COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
FINAL STATS BOOK
COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
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