In a matchup featuring two of the three SWAC teams with overall winning records, it was Grambling that was able to outlast Bethune-Cookman to claim a 63-62 victory on Saturday.
It was a hotly contested affair throughout, with the teams exchanging the lead 19 times while tying on 13 occasions.
Although Bethune-Cookman shot the ball reasonably well for the first three quarters at 47.9% and 44.4% for Grambling, however shooting plummeted in the fourth quarter. The teams combined to shoot 1 for 31 and score just 18 points in the game’s final 10 minutes.
Bethune-Cookman did not convert any of their nine field goal attempts in the fourth quarter, with their only points coming from the free throw line. Grambling connected on just one of their 22 shot attempts, an Anijah Grant layup that gave Grambling a 63-62 lead in the frame.
Fought until the final buzzer 👏🏽#Gramfam|#ThisIsTheG🐯🏀|#ChampionshipTalk💍 pic.twitter.com/Z6bx8AmcCo
— Grambling State University Women’s Basketball (@GSU_WBK) January 13, 2024
Grant, the only player in double figures, lead Grambling with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
In a losing effort, Chanelle McDonald paced Bethune with 19 points. Kerrigan Dunn and Kayla Clark chipped in 10 points each.
Grambling (8-6, 2-1) will hit the road to face Florida A&M. Up next for Wildcats (10-5, 1-1) is an away meeting with Southern on Monday.
