HOUSTON (SWAC) – No. 2 seed Texas Southern defeated Alabama State 68-54, advancing to the finals of the SWAC Women’s Basketball Tournament.
Aided by a cold shooting snap from Alabama State – who missed its first eight shots – Texas Southern (22-9) jumped ahead with a 10-2 advantage. The Lady Hornets (14-16) clawed back into it, but their offensive struggles came back to bite them over the second and third quarters.
In what was the turning point of the game, Alabama State went from the 2:58 mark of the second quarter to the midpoint of the third quarter without a basket, missing 15 straight shots at one point. Texas Southern took advantage with a 21-5 run that broke open a 28-28 tie and made the game 49-33 for the Lady Tigers in the third quarter, during which Alabama State went the final 4:03 of without a made shot from the floor.
The Lady Hornets, who held a 27-10 edge in points off the bench, ultimately shot just 29 percent from the floor (19-of-65) and were outscored in the paint 36-24 and trailed by double-digits for the rest of the fourth quarter, with TSU leading by as many as 18 at one point.
Joyce Kennerson led TSU with 20 points and seven rebounds. Chynna Ewing scored 15 points, snagged six boards and dished out five assists.
Britney Wright led ASU with 15 points, six rebounds and three steals.
