Six SWAC schools opened their seasons friday while three more will tip-off today.
Ole Miss 69, Jackson State 65
Despite a combined 30 point effort from Rachel Jones and Beatrice Banks the Jackson State women’s basketball team fell 69-65 to the Ole Miss Rebels in the Inn at Ole Miss Classic.
Jones and Banks each scored 15 points for the Lady Tigers. Jones went 6-14 from the field and pulled down nine rebounds. She also dished out a team high four assists. Banks came off the bench to go 5-5 from three point range. She scored her 15 points in 10 minutes of play. Tiffany Kellum came off the bench to score 10 points and grab six rebounds. Ayanna Hardy-Fuller scored five points and pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds.
Next up for the Lady Tigers is Southeast Missouri State on Saturday in the consolation game of the tournament. Tip-off is set for 1 pm.
No. 14 Florida State 89, Alabama State 39
The No. 14 Florida State women’s basketball team continued the program’s season-opener dominance Friday night with an 89-39 victory over visiting Alabama State.
For the game, FSU shot 46.7 percent compared to just 20 percent by Alabama State. The Seminoles outrebounded the Hornets 59-40.
Tanika Jackson had a team-high 13 points for Alabama State while Erica Henderson contributed eight points. Jackson and Angelese Hunter pulled down five rebounds apiece.
No. 17 Texas 92, Mississippi Valley State 60
Ashleigh Fontenette scored 20 points and Kathleen Nash added 19, leading No. 17 Texas to a 92-60 victory over Mississippi Valley State in their season opener Friday night.
Yvonne Anderson had 18 points for the Longhorns, who put five players in double figures. Chassidy Fussell scored 12 and Anne Marie Hartung 10.
Texas made nine of its first 11 shots from the field and six of its first seven 3-pointers to open a 23-3 lead. Mississippi Valley State struggled to find any offensive rhythm, as the Longhorns finished with 15 steals and eight blocks while forcing 26 turnovers.
De’Kisha Fondon had 21 points for Mississippi Valley State and Olivia Kennedy added 19.
No. 22 Iowa 76, Southern 52
Led by Kelly Krei and Kachine Alexander, Iowa took down Southern, 76-52, in the first game of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi’s Islander Tip-off tournament.
Krei recorded a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds while preseason All-Big Ten First teamer Alexander nearly matched Krei’s effort, scoring 18 points and grabbing nine rebounds.
Ashley Augerson paced the Jaguars with 14 points. Hannah Kador chipped in 12 points and Julia Jackson added nine. Freda Allen pulled down a team-high five rebounds.
Kansas State 67, Grambling State 44
With the help of a 16-3 run to open the second half, Kansas State won its ninth straight game in the Commerce Bank Wildcat Classic with a 67-44 decision over Grambling State on Friday afternoon.
K-State’s Britttany Chambers led all scorers with a career-high 21 points, including 16 in the second half.
Kristen Harper had 11 points for Grambling State while Tonishea Mack and Wyneshia Randle contribed eight points apiece.
Michigan 88, Alcorn State 43
The University of Michigan women’s basketball team defeated Alcorn State, 88-43, in the season opener on Friday night (Nov. 12) inside Crisler Arena.
Kate Thompson was one of four Wolverines to score in double figures. Courtney Boylan added 14 points and seven assists, while Veronica Hicks had 11 points and seven rebounds. Sam Arnold rounded out the double-digit scoring for Michigan with 12 points.
The Wolverines saw a comeback from Alcorn State in the second half but never let their lead slip under 30 points. U-M forced another eight turnovers in the second half, bringing the game total to 27.
