TSU Lady Tigers Fall to Gamecocks at Home

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NASHVILLE, Tennessee  -- The Tennessee State University women’s basketball team fell to Jacksonville State, 75-56, Thursday night in the Gentry Center.

Tennessee State (2-10, 0-3 OVC) managed to cut a 20-point deficit down to just seven points but Jacksonville State (9-5, 3-0 OVC) closed the game with a, 13-1, run to pull away down the stretch.

Tia Wooten poured in 28 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for a double-double but she was the only Lady Tiger to reach double-figures.

Jacksonville State had four players score in double-digits led by Gretchen Morrison’s 17 points.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• TSU Leaders
• Points: Tia Wooten- 28
• Rebounds: Tia Wooten - 11
• Assists: Maxine Beard and Asia Sims - 2
• Steals: Kaliya Griffin and Tia Wooten - 2

• TSU outrebounded JSU, 46-40.
• The Gamecocks held the advantage in bench points, 45-9.
• TSU shot 25.4 percent from the field and 18.2 percent from three-point range.
• The Lady Tigers shot an impressive 82.8 percent from the free-throw line.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Despite only making one field goal in the opening quarter, TSU only trailed 15-10 heading into the second frame.
• TSU’s struggles continued in the second period and the Lady Tigers were outscored 18-6 in the opening five minutes.
• A three-pointer by Andreana Wrister ended TSU’s scoring drought but by then the Lady Tigers were behind, 33-19.
• At the half, the score was 36-22, in favor of the Gamecocks.
• TSU used a timeout after falling behind by 20 with seven minutes left in the third.
• Buckets from Tia Wooten sparked a 10-3 run that cut the deficit down to 47-34.
• Jaden Wrightsell connected in the paint close the gap to 10 points with 7:29 remaining.
• TSU managed to cut it to single digits behind another three-point play from Wooten but JSU answered with a triple on its next possession to move ahead, 65-55.
• Jacksonville State outscored TSU 13-1 in the final 6:37 of the game to pull away.

GAME NOTES

• TSU shot 1-of-13 from the field in the first quarter, but finished 8-for-8 from the free throw line.
• TSU shot 25 percent from the field in the game (15-of-59).
• TSU finished 83 percent from the line (24-of-29).
• Jacksonville State now leads the series 17-16.
• Tia Wooten collected her third double-double of the season and her career with 28 points and 11 rebounds.

• Wooten entered the contest leading the OVC in scoring with 20.5 points/game.

QUOTES

Head Coach Jessica Kern

"This one was rough. This one was rough because every game there has been a silver lining kind of deal. And you do have those games where you stink up the place. And we stunk up the place today. We had a great practice, we had a great shoot around, and it did not carry over to the game. What will we not accept is a lack of discipline on both ends of the floor and across the board. I'm extremely disappointed in our will and want tonight." 

-Overview of the game

"Again, I continue to talk about her character. Tia is growing as a person if you watch us in the Kentucky State game to now. It's very difficult being an undersized post player. She's getting contact every time down the floor, and you have to every time as an undersized post player. You have to learn to play with that. I am very impressed that she's keeping her head. She had three fouls in the first half, and then we were able to keep her on the floor in the second half. Hands down, I have no problem saying it and I hope people take head. Tia Wooten should be a candidate for player of the year."

-On Tia Wooten

"Right. You can't have two's and give up three's. They shot 30 tonight. I keep saying this with teams, but we're exuding so much energy with a short roster. On one end, we're lacking on the other. We have to find a way to start games better. We scored a little bit better than we did the game prior, however we can't ask key players to do it on both ends at such a high level. We're going upstairs as staff right now. We'll be looking at film immediately, and the girls will be here bright and early in the morning. We're going to continue to do what we do. Our philosophy doesn't change. We're praying a light goes off against Tennessee Tech." 
-On cutting the lead to 10 in the second half

UP NEXT

• TSU continues OVC action on Saturday against Tennessee Tech. Game time is set for 2 p.m. in the Gentry Center.

TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS