TSU Lady Tigers Defeat Arkansas State in Home Opener

NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- The Tennessee State University women’s basketball team used a strong fourth quarter to defeat Arkansas State, 76-66, in the home opener Saturday afternoon in the Gentry Center.

Diamond Beatty led TSU offensively with a career-high 23 points. She made five triples and shot 50 percent from long range. Jayda Johnson finished the game with 19 points, six steals and four rebounds while I’mani Davis posted a double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds.

Arkansas State fell to 0-3 on the season and had three players score in double-digits.

The game was tied 16-16 in when six straight points from Arkansas State made the score, 22-18, in favor of the visitors at the end of the first quarter.



In the second frame, empty possessions and turnovers led to TSU falling behind by double-digits, 38-26. The Lady Tigers began showing signs of life when a three-pointer by Diamond Beatty sparked a 14-0 run that put the Lady Tigers on top, 40-38. TSU knocked down three triples and held ASU scoreless over a span of five minutes to go into the break with the lead.

The Red Wolves knotted the game at 40-all early in the third quarter and from there the teams traded buckets. The lead changed for the ninth time when Beatty drove the lane and dropped in a lay-up.

On the next play, Maxine Beard found Jayda Johnson in the paint to give TSU a slight, 50-47, advantage just before the media timeout.

Following the break, both teams went cold on the offensive end as neither team made a field goal for the next four minutes. TSU led 52-49 heading into the final quarter.



The back and forth battled continued in the fourth frame and the teams played to a 54-54 tie with just over seven minutes on the clock.

At the 5:13 mark, Diamond Beatty sank a jumper to give TSU a 61-57 cushion before I’mani Davis scored to put TSU on top, 68-61, with 1:51 remaining.

A steal and break-away lay-up by Jayda Johnson with 49.3 seconds gave TSU an eight point advantage and essentially put the game out of reach.

TSU shot 42.9 percent from the field, including 43.8 percent from beyond the arc. The Lady Tigers made 11-of-16 from the free-throw line and scored 28 points off of turnovers.

The Lady Tigers return to action after Thanksgiving at the Lady Rebel Classic hosted by UNLV, Nov. 26-27.

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