Texas Southern 65, Jackson State 47
HOUSTON – Freshman guard Joyce Kennerson netted a season-high 25 points in Texas Southern’s 65-47 win over Jackson State Thursday afternoon during the 2016 Toyota SWAC Basketball Tournament quarterfinals at the Toyota Center. The Lady Tigers will face Southern Friday afternoon at 12 p.m.
Texas Southern (19-10) made 80 percent of its shots in the first quarter of the game, entering the second with an eight-point advantage. During the quarter, the Lady Tigers went on a six-point run – the longest of the half.
The first score in the second quarter came three-plus minutes into the session. Kennerson scored 10 points in the first half with three rebounds. [easyazon_infoblock align=”right” cloak=”y” identifier=”B0186J8A4O” locale=”US” tag=”hbcusports-20″]
Derica Wiggins paced the Lady Tigers of Jackson State (14-16) through the first with eight points, making three of her five shots from the field off the bench.
Each team managed 15 points in the third session followed by an explosive final quarter courtesy of Texas Southern. The Lady Tigers only allowed one score due to foul shots before the team hit eight consecutive points.
Kennerson finished the game making seven of her 17 shots from the field. Her 25 points were the highest scored by a Texas Southern freshman during a SWAC tournament game since the 2013-14 season when, Alexus Johnson collected 16 points against Prairie View A&M.
Keiana Vines and Brianna Sidney each hit double-digit scores – Vines with 12 points and five rebounds, Sidney with 10 points. Ladeyh Forte passed a season-high 10 assists.
Jackson State’s Kierra Adams recorded 15 points with 10 rebounds – the only double-double of the game. Wiggins and Bridget Robinson each secured 13 points – Robinson with six rebounds.
Jackson State forced two more turnovers than the team committed (18).
Grambling State 60, Prairie View A&M 56
Monisha Neal managed a game-high 16 points in the Grambling State 60-56 win over Prairie View A&M Thursday afternoon during the quarter finals of the 2016 Toyota SWAC Basketball Tournament. The Lady Tigers (17-13) advance to play Alabama State Friday at 6 p.m.
In their first win over Prairie View in the conference tournament since the 2002-03 season, freshman duo Shakyla Hill and Jazmine Boyd combined for eight points in the opening of the first quarter – only allowing Prairie View one point due to a foul.
The Lady Panthers would battle back on a seven-point run to close the scoring gap by one.
Each team took turns scoring until the beginning of the second when the Lady Tigers hit six consecutive points. The half ended in favor of Grambling, 30-29. [easyazon_infoblock align=”right” cloak=”y” identifier=”B013CA4ARI” key=”image” locale=”US” tag=”hbcusports-20″]
At the buzzer, PV’s Monique Abbs tied things up at 46 at the bottom of the third. The Lady Tigers once again pulled away from the Lady Panthers with back-to-back points from Neal.
The last minute of the game proved crucial as the Lady Panthers tied the game once again at 56. With seconds on the clock, the Lady Tigers finished the game scoring four points to close the game and move on o the semi finals.
Neal added 10 rebounds to her tournament resume, earning the only double-double of the game. She was joined in double figures by Hill who netted 14 points with three assists and three steals, while John’ea Thompson grabbed a game-high 11 boards.
Lamaria Cole scored 15 points for the Lady Panthers while adding eight rebounds, three assists and one steal. Alexus Parker, Lanikki McMillian and Tori Carter each produced 11 points – Parker with nine rebounds, while Taylor Overshown captured a season-high 10 rebounds.
The Lady Panthers were more accurate in the field with a 38.1 shooting percentage, while Grambling forced more turnovers (20) than it committed (14).
Courtesy: SWAC
