Grambling Hands Southeastern Louisiana First Home Loss

HAMMOND, Louisiana – Southeastern Louisiana junior guard Taylin Underwood scored a game-high 25 points, but it was not enough as Grambling pulled away for an 87-71 victory in non-conference women's basketball action.

Grambling (2-9) snapped an eight-game losing streak and handed SLU (2-8) its first home loss of 2016-17. The Lady Tigers finished with 18 offensive rebounds and held a 21-5 advantage on second chance points, which accounted for their margin of victory.

"Give Grambling credit for the way they crashed the offensive boards," Southeastern head coach Errol Gauff said. "Their ability to take advantage of second chance opportunities was one of the biggest differences in the game. When we get back from the break, we have to focus on executing better on offense. We shot the ball well today, but Grambling forced us into too many turnovers."

Underwood was one of three Lady Lions in double figures, along with senior forward Chey Stewart (11 points) and freshman guard Charlie Dugas (10 points). Sophomore guard Ashailee Brailey and senior guard Bre Warren led Southeastern with four assists each, while Underwood grabbed a team-high six rebounds. Sophomore Jaclyn Scholvin finished with a game-high three steals to lead SLU.

Shakyla Hill topped a balanced Grambling effort with 24 points and a game-high eight rebounds. Hill was joined in double figures by teammates Jazmin Boyd (20 points), Monisha Neal (15 points) and Jazmine Torian (13 points). Torian also led GSU with four assists, while Boyd and Takerra Parsons recorded three steals apiece as Grambling forced 24 SLU turnovers.

A couple of free throws by Underwood gave Southeastern a 15-9 lead with 4:23 left in the opening quarter. Grambling answered with a 10-0 run, but a three by freshman guard Courtney Dawsey helped SLU knot the game up at 19-19 at the end of the quarter.

The game was tied for the final time with 5:10 remaining in the second quarter after a Dugas layup. Grambling would then hold the Lady Lions scoreless for the next four minutes and went into halftime with a 38-33 lead.

Grambling scored the first five points of the third quarter to stretch the lead to 10. Southeastern gradually chipped away at the lead and pulled within five on a pair of free throws by Underwood that cut the lead to 52-47 with 4:35 left in the third quarter.

GSU answered with a 7-0 run, as a pair of Kiana Jones free throws put the Lady Tigers up, 59-47, with 2:47 left in the third quarter. Despite Underwood scoring 15 points in the period, SLU ended the third quarter with a 65-55 deficit.

After a jumper by Warren cut the lead to eight on the opening possession of the fourth quarter, Hill scored seven straight points to give GSU a 72-57 advantage with 7:21 left in the contest. SLU would get no closer than nine the rest of the way, as the lead ballooned to as many as 18 down the stretch.

Southeastern will take a week off for Christmas before closing their non-conference schedule on Wednesday, Dec. 28 with a 6 p.m. (CST) contest at Florida. The game will air on SEC Network+ and can be heard in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9), online at www.LionSports.net/listenlive and via the TuneIn Radio app.

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