GSU uses big first quarter in win over McNeese, 75-51

GRAMBLING, Louisiana | The Grambling State University women's basketball team used a big first quarter and did not look back in picking up its first win of the young season, 75-51, over McNeese State on Friday night at the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center.
 
The Lady Tigers (1-1) led 17-7 after one quarter and outscored the Cowgirls (0-1), 21-11, to take a 38-18 advantage into the half. Despite being outscored, 21-16, in the third quarter, Grambling State held McNeese to 12 points in the final period to cruise to the 75-51 win.
 
Shakyla Hill finished just two assists and two steals from a triple double. The senior guard finished with a game-high 19 points, on 8-of-12 shooting, eight assists, eight steals and five rebounds to pace Grambling State. Madison Connally-Banks registered 12 points, while Candice Parramore added 10 points. Jasmine Forte chipped in with a team-high nine boards and seven points.
 
Callie Maddox paced McNeese with 17 points and three rebounds. Divine Tanks registered a double-double with a game-high 19 boards, 11 coming on the defensive end, and 13 points.
 
Turning Point
Grambling State jumped out to a 10-3 advantage after a layup by Shakyla Hill with 6:14 remaining in the opening period and extended the margin to 12-4 after two free throws by Candice Parramore with 2:35 left in the quarter.
 
A 3-pointer by Callie Maddox closed the gap to 12-7 with 2:26 left in the first, but the Lady Tigers finished the period strong with five straight points to take a 17-7 lead into the second.
 
McNeese never got any closer as Grambling State pushed the advantage to as many as 23 points (36-13) after a jumper by Markisha Body with 3:29 remaining in the second.
 
In the second half, the Cowgirls cut the deficit to 50-37 after a layup by Divine Tanks with 1:16 left in the period, but the Lady Tigers extended the advantage to 54-37 after a bucket by Hannah Henderson with 59 seconds left in the quarter.
 
In the final period, Grambling State put the game away with a small 9-4 run, capped by jumper by Parramore to push the margin back to 20 points (63-43) with 7:01 left.

Inside the Numbers
> Grambling State was 32-of-60 (53.3 percent) shooting and 9-of-26 (34.6 percent) from the charity stripe
> McNeese shot 29.5 percent (18-of-61) from the field and 38.5 percent (10-of-26) from the free-throw line
> GSU registered 38 rebounds, including 27 on the defensive end
> The Cowgirls pulled down 47 rebounds, with 27 coming off the defensive glass
> Grambling State finished with 50 points in the paint, 29 bench points, 27 points off 29 Cowgirl turnovers, seven second-chance points and six fast-break points
> McNeese tallied 25 bench points, 22 points in the paint, 12 off 22 Lady Tiger turnovers and 10 second-chance points

BOX SCORE
 
News and Notes
> Shakyla Hill surpassed the 1,500-point plateau during the win
> Shakyla Hill now has 700 rebounds for her collegiate career
> Jazmin Boyd is now just two points shy of 1,000 for her collegiate career
 
Up Next
Grambling State returns to action on Sunday as the Lady Tigers visit Southern Miss. Tip-off in Hattiesburg, Miss. is scheduled for 2 p.m.
 
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