Texas Southern 52, Alabama State 48
HOUSTON – Texas Southern held off Alabama State to force a tie atop the standings in a 52-48 TSU victory Saturday afternoon. The victory halts the Hornets’ win streak at six.
The two teams traded baskets for the first 11 minutes of the game, until Texas Southern put together a 10-2 run over a five-minute span in the second quarter — aided predominantly by foul shooting and the play of Chynna Ewing, who scored eight of her team-high 16 in the quarter — that handed the Tigers an 11-point lead at intermission.
Alabama State managed a 10-4 run over the final four-plus minutes of the game to get in striking distance. Back-to-back treys by Britney Wright and Damya Toney pulled ASU within one with 12 ticks left, but TSU forced a turnover on the Hornets’ last possession, and Artavia Ford iced it at the line for the Lady Tigers. With the win,Texas Southern moves to 12-7, 6-2 SWAC. Alabama State falls to 7-11, 6-2 SWAC.
Wright posted a game-high 21 points on 7-of-16 shooting from the floor. She also added four steals in the loss. Toney came off the bench to chip in 10 in the loss. Ewing grabbed 11 boards and Joyce Kennerson added 15 points.
Courtesy: Alabama State Athletic Communications
Alcorn State 69, Southern 63
LORMAN, Miss. – A big second half by Alcorn State pushed the Lady Braves to a 69-63 win over Southern on Saturday afternoon.
Alcorn State scored 43 points over the final two quarters, overcoming a 32-26 first-half deficit. The Jaguars pushed their lead to 40-28 before Miracle Rushing sparked an 8-0 run to pull the Braves within four (40-36). Southern managed to take a 50-45 lead into the final quarter.
After Rushing brought Alcorn (6-14, 6-3 SWAC) within three, Tia Sanders converted a three-point play to force a 52-all tie. Alexus Freeman then converted a steal into a layup that served as the catalyst to a 9-2 Lady Braves run that put them ahead for good. Freeman scored nine of her game-high 20 points in the deciding frame, adding seven boards and a career-high six swipes.
Sanders added 11. For Southern (8-9, 6-3 SWAC), Courtney Parsons and Miaya Crowder scored 14 each. Cortnei Purnell notched a double-double with 11 points and 13 boards.
Prairie View A&M 71, Alabama A&M 47
PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas – Three Lady Panthers notched double figures in scoring as Prairie View A&M downed Alabama A&M 71-47 Saturday afternoon.
There were six lead changes in the contest, all in the first five+ minutes. A jumper by Jeronia Allen put the Lady Panthers ahead to stay, 9-8 with 4:19 to play in the period. The basket started an 8-0 run that helped PVAMU to 15-10 lead after one.
In the second quarter, a three pointer by Alexus Parker midway the second quarter gave the Lady Panthers a double-digit advantage at 23-12. It was part of a13-3 run that evolved to a 30-17 halftime lead. A quarter-opening 14-2 run pushed the PVAMU lead above 20 points. In the third quarter, a layup by Dominique Newman pushed the lead to 38-17 with 7:25 to play in the period. The Lady Panthers never led by less than 19 points the remainder of the game.
Parker led the way with 19 points, five rebounds, four assists, and four steals for PVAMU (8-12, 3-5 SWAC). LaSha Haynes added 16 points and Newman scored 13 points, and added two assists and four steals for the Lady Panthers.
Hilary Williams scored 13 to lead the Lady Bulldogs (2-15, 0-8 SWAC). Lauren McKee added 11, and Jameica Cobb netted 10.
Courtesy: Prairie View A&M Sports Information.
Grambling State 56, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 54
GRAMBLING, La. – A double-double by Shakyla Hill helped power Grambling State to a 56-54 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff Saturday afternoon.
The Lady Tigers struggled early on as the Lady Lions managed to build a 26-22 halftime lead. Grambling would find its shooting touch somewhat in the second half, as the Tigers outscored UAPB 21-13 to take a 43-39 lead into the final quarter, fending off the Lady Lions down the stretch.
Hill ended the night with 13 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and four steals. Jazmin Boyd and Jazmine Torain each added 10 points, as the Tigers (7-12, 5-3 SWAC) outshot UAPB (6-13, 3-5 SWAC) 44 percent to 28.1 percent in the second half.
Faith Ohanta and Malaik Muhammad each scored nine points for UAPB. Destiny Brewton and Niya Head were quieted, combining for 13 points and nine turnovers.
Mississippi Valley State 62, Jackson State 57
JACKSON, Miss. – Kristy Parker scored 22 points, and Ashley Beals poured in 18 points and 18 boards (eight offensive) as Mississippi Valley State outlasted Jackson State 62-57 Saturday afternoon.
The Devilettes forced Jackson State into 22 turnovers during a game where neither side shot the ball particularly well. After MVSU shook off a slow start to bring a 12-9 lead into the second quarter, Kenya Hailey helped MVSU (7-11, 4-3 SWAC) push its lead to eight before the Lady Tigers closed within two.
Jackson State came out of intermission with a 7-0 run that handed the Lady Tigers (7-10, 1-6 SWAC) a seven-point lead with 5:27 left in the period. Beals asserted herself from that point, keying a 15-3 Devilette run that ended the third quarter and ultimately proved the difference in the game.
Hailey added 11 points. Derica Wiggins went for 23 points and 11 boards for JSU.
Courtesy: SWAC