Brianna Lawrence’s Buzzer Beater Lifts TSU Past MSU

NASHVILLE, Tennessee --- Senior Brianna Lawrence sank a floater at the buzzer to give the Tennessee State University women’s basketball team a much needed win over Morehead State, 78-76, Saturday night in the Gentry Center.

 

After Morehead State tied the game with five seconds remaining, Tennessee State had one more chance. The Lady Tigers made good on their opportunity and Brianna Lawrence knocked down the game winner just before the clock expired.

 

The win snapped a five-game losing skid for TSU and moved the team to 10-14 (5-6 OVC). Lawrence finished with 18 points and four steals while Jayda Johnson scored 17. I’mani Davis notched her third double-double of the season with 14 points and 10 rebounds to go with six assists and three blocks.

 

Miranda Crockett led Morehead State (9-16, 3-8 OVC) with 20 points while Eriel McKee (17), Brianna McQueen (14) and Natalie Greenwell (12) also reached double-figures.

 

The Lady Tigers got off to a fast start and made their first seven field goal attempts. A three-pointer by Diamond Beatty followed by a bucket from Jordan Brightwell gave TSU a 17-6 lead midway through the opening quarter.

 

Despite a 7-0 run from Morehead State, TSU led 21-15 heading into the second frame. The Eagles continued to push in the second quarter and outscored the Lady Tigers 8-3 to pull within one (27-26).

TSU once again built its lead up, 35-26, but MSU answered and sliced the deficit to one, 40-39, late in the period before the Lady Tigers went into halftime leading, 41-39.

 

Morehead State scored the first points of the second half and from there the teams traded buckets. The teams played to a 46-46 tie when scores from TSU including a reverse lay-up by Franceska Brown gave the Lady Tigers a, 51-46, cushion.

 

On the ensuing possession, however, MSU used a three-point play to make the score, 51-49. TSU created a little distance when Diamond Beatty knocked down a three-pointer near the two-minute mark. But seven consecutive points from opponent made the score, 61-61 with seconds on the clock. As time winded down, Brianna buried her fourth triple of the game at the buzzer to give TSU a, 64-61, lead heading into the final stanza.

 

Four unanswered points from Morehead State to start the fourth, gave the Eagles a 65-64 lead. On TSU’s next trip down the floor Asia Sims connected from long range to give the lead back to the Lady Tigers.

 

The next several minutes were a battle. At the final media timeout of the game, TSU was holding on to a slight, 71-70, lead. Out of the break, Asia Sims knocked down her second three-pointer of the game to make the score, 74-70, in favor of the home team with less than four minutes remaining. The score stayed close the rest of the game.

 

With 37 seconds remaining and TSU up by two, I’mani Davis came away with an offensive rebound that kept the possession with the Lady Tigers. After seconds ticked off the clock, TSU used a timeout to draw up a play.

 

TSU’s shot attempt, however, was off the mark and MSU grabbed the rebound. The Eagles burned a timeout to advance the ball with 10.9 seconds left. The Eagles were able to score with five seconds left to even the game at 76-all.

 

With time winding down, Brianna Lawrence drove the length of the court to drain a floater at the buzzer to give the Lady Tigers the victory.

 

Tennessee State returns to action on Wednesday, Feb. 10 versus Tennessee Tech. Game time is set for 5:30 p.m. in the Gentry Center.

FINAL STATS

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION