No. 7 Kentucky up Next for TSU Lady Tigers

TENNESSEE STATE (5-6) vs. KENTUCKY (10-0)
MONDAY | DEC. 28 | 5:00 P.M. CT

GAME NOTES: TENNESSEE STATE
VIDEO: ESPN3

GAMEDAY
Following the Christmas break, the Tennessee State University women’s basketball team will return to action at Kentucky on Monday, Dec. 28. Game time is set for 6:00 p.m. ET in Memorial Coliseum.

THE LADY TIGERS AT A GLANCE
Tennessee State is off to a 5-6 start after dropping two straight games at the Lady Griz Classic last weekend. The Lady Tigers fell to Utah State (63-46) before dropping a hard fought contest to Florida Atlantic, 69-64. TSU has lost three of its last four contests.

Juniors I’mani Davis (13.5 ppg) and Jayda Johnson (12.5 ppg) lead TSU in scoring while senior Brianna Lawrence (10.8 ppg) rounds out the top three scorers. These three upperclassmen also lead the Lady Tigers in rebounding.

As a team, TSU is averaging 62.6 points per game and shooting 34.6 percent from the field, including 28.9 percent from beyond the arc and 67.6 percent from the free-throw line.

The Lady Tigers are led by fourth year head coach and Hall of Famer, Larry Joe Inman.

LAST TIME OUT
Tennessee State battled back from a double-digit deficit to take the lead but ultimately fell to Florida Atlantic, 69-64, in the consolation game of the Lady Griz Classic hosted by Montana. Jayda Johnson recorded her third double-double of the season with 14 points and 10 rebounds while Samantha Palma added 12 points. I’mani Davis (11) and Brianna Lawrence (10) also finished with double-digits. Davis was named to the All-Tournament team after averaging 13.5 ppg and 7.5 rebounds during the tournament.

ABOUT KENTUCKY
Kentucky is off to a 10-0 start and is the No. 7 ranked team in the nation. The Wildcats are coming off a, 71-61, victory over Duke last Sunday. Evelyn Akhator led UK with 18 points while Janee Thompson (17) and Makayla Epps (17) also notched double-figures.

Epps leads the team in scoring with 17.2 ppg while Thompson turns in 14.1 points per outing. Akhator averages 11.8 ppg and Alexis Jennings (10.2 ppg) rounds out the top scorers for the Wildcats.

As a team, Kentucky is averaging 81.4 points per game while shooting 49.1 percent from the field and 41.5 percent from three-point range.

SERIES INFORMATION
TSU will match up with Kentucky for the sixth time in the series history with UK holding a 5-0 series advantage. The two teams last met in the first round of the NCAA on March 20, 2015. TSU fell to UK, 97-52, in Memorial Coliseum.

COVERAGE
Updates on the game will be available throughout the game on the official twitter page via @TSU_Tigers. Links for live stats and live video will also be available on tsutigers.com under the schedule.

UP NEXT
The Lady Tigers will remain on the road and face Youngstown State on Dec. 30. The teams will match up for the fourth time with YSU leading the series 3-0. In the last meeting, the Penguins defeated the Lady Tigers, 73-66 in the inaugural Teresa Phillips Thanksgiving Classic (11/30/14).

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION