Fourth Quarter Hampers TSU Lady Tigers in Loss to AAMU Bulldogs

FINAL BOX

Final Score: Tennessee State 57 – Alabama A&M 67
Records: TSU (0-2) – AAMU (1-1)
Venue: T.M. Elmore Gymnasium
Location: Normal, Ala.

NORMAL, Alabama --- After battling through the first three quarters, the Tennessee State University women’s basketball struggled in the fourth and fell to Alabama A&M, 67-57, in T.M. Elmore Gymnasium.

Taylor Roberts led TSU (0-2) with 16 points while Lauren Elliott added 15. Cebria Outlow grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds to go with eight points.

The score was tied heading into the fourth quarter but TSU was held scoreless through five and half minutes of action and ultimately got outscored, 17-7, in the frame.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• TSU Leaders
• Points:  Taylor Roberts– 16
• Rebounds: Cebria Outlow- 10
• Assists: Terrysha Banner – 4
• Steals: Lauren Elliott- 4
• Lauren Elliott also scored in double-digits with 15 points.
• TSU shot 82.6 percent (19-of-23) from the free-throw line.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After a closely contested first quarter, TSU had a slight 17-16 lead going into the next period.
• The Lady Tigers used a 5-0 spurt to move ahead, 22-16, but the Bulldogs scored the next five points to pull within one.
• TSU led 31-30 at halftime.
• The teams traded momentum in the second half. AAMU used a 7-1 run to jump ahead, 40-34, before TSU answered with a rally of its own to tie the game at 40-all.
• From there, the teams traded buckets and the score was knotted 50-50 heading into the final frame.
• TSU got off to a slow start in the fourth and suffered through a five and a half minute scoring drought that saw the Lady Tigers fall behind, 56-50.
• TSU was down 60-55 when AAMU hit a triple to go ahead, 63-55, with 1:27 remaining.
• The Bulldogs scored on their next possession to increase their advantage to double-digits and never relinquished the lead.
• TSU was outscored, 17-7, in the fourth quarter.

QUOTES
Head Coach Jessica Kern

“I think we played a good three quarters. I think we defended for three quarters and then you get into the fourth quarter and for the second consecutive game, we weren’t tight at the end. We had some key players in foul trouble very early in the game, which made it difficult for us. We had to use some young bodies early. But again, the upside of this is, we’re seeing several different conferences and several different types of play.”

-Overall thoughts on the game

“We want to get to the line about 25 times. We’re a downhill playing kind of team. I think we made a better adjustment of getting to the free-throw line in the second half than we did in the first. The kids are in the gym every week, making 500 free-throws and I think it’s starting to pay off.”

- On the team’s improvement at the free-throw line

UP NEXT

• TSU will continue its road swing with a contest at Troy on Friday, Nov. 16. Game time is set for noon in Trojan Arena.

TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY TIGERS ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS