HOUSTON – The Lady Tigers of Texas Southern University overwhelmed Grambling during the middle quarters Monday and claimed a 66-56 win.
At TSU's H&PE Arena, Joyce Kennerson scored a game-high 25 points and pulled in five rebounds to lead the Lady Tigers (14-9, 9-3 SWAC) to their eighth win in their last nine Southwestern Athletic Conference contests.
The win also moved TSU one-half game ahead of Grambling (12-12, 9-4 SWAC) for second place in the conference standings.
Senior post player Taylor Robinson notched her first double-double in a TSU uniform, scoring 10 points and pulling in 11 rebounds. The 6-foot-4 transfer from Temple University recorded only the third double-double of the season for the Lady Tigers, and the first for a player other than Breasia McElrath.
Kaitlyn Palmer chipped in 14 points and six rebounds for Texas Southern, and was 2-of-3 from 3-point range. Meanwhile, Kennerson was 4-of-7 from the 3-point circle; the duo ranks Nos. 2 and 3 in the SWAC in 3-point shooting.
The hometown Lady Tigers kept Grambling's Shakyla Hill from taking over the game. Hill, who received national attention last month for the NCAA's first quadruple-double since 1993, missed the first half with early foul trouble and had a frustrating 6-of-20 game shooting. Still, she scored a team-high 17 points and pulled seven rebounds.
UP NEXT:
TSU's Lady Tigers return to action Saturday when they visit Mississippi Valley State. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
TSU outscored its guests 41-9 during the second and third quarters as the host Lady Tigers led by as many 20 during that span. Texas Southern shot 56 percent (18 of 32) during the middle 20 minutes, compared to their 25-percent showing (6 of 24) during the first and fourth quarters.
Helping TSU's cause was the team's 53-29 advantage in rebounding. The host Lady Tigers pulled 18 offensive rebounds off Grambling's backboard, compared to just 13 defensive rebounds for the visitors.
Rebounding has consistently been the weak point for Grambling's otherwise strong and talented team. The visiting Lady Tigers secured 16 caroms in the fourth quarter – more than doubling their 13 rebounds through the first 30 minutes – as they outscored TSU 21-11.
TSU held a 55-35 lead after three quarters, which kept Grambling from getting closer than eight points the rest of the way. Still, the visitors forced nine of TSU's 23 turnovers during the final quarter.
GAME NOTES:
• Catherine Okwilagwe scored eight points and pulled in a career-high nine rebounds for Texas Southern.
• TSU improved to 11-0 when holding their opponents under 60 points.
• The Lady Tigers are now 12-1 when leading after halftime, as TSU took a 35-26 lead into the midgame break.
• Texas Southern's 23 turnovers – along with Grambling's 11 giveaways – resulted in TSU's worst turnover margin for any game this season.
• Head coach Jeanetta Hayes-Perry improved to 10-2 against Grambling in her coaching career. The Jackson State/Grambling State weekends have been her most successful as a SWAC coach, as she is 22-2 against the conference's "other Tigers." (The 22-2 record includes postseason wins over both teams.)
Courtesy: TSU Athletics
At TSU's H&PE Arena, Joyce Kennerson scored a game-high 25 points and pulled in five rebounds to lead the Lady Tigers (14-9, 9-3 SWAC) to their eighth win in their last nine Southwestern Athletic Conference contests.
The win also moved TSU one-half game ahead of Grambling (12-12, 9-4 SWAC) for second place in the conference standings.
Senior post player Taylor Robinson notched her first double-double in a TSU uniform, scoring 10 points and pulling in 11 rebounds. The 6-foot-4 transfer from Temple University recorded only the third double-double of the season for the Lady Tigers, and the first for a player other than Breasia McElrath.
Kaitlyn Palmer chipped in 14 points and six rebounds for Texas Southern, and was 2-of-3 from 3-point range. Meanwhile, Kennerson was 4-of-7 from the 3-point circle; the duo ranks Nos. 2 and 3 in the SWAC in 3-point shooting.
The hometown Lady Tigers kept Grambling's Shakyla Hill from taking over the game. Hill, who received national attention last month for the NCAA's first quadruple-double since 1993, missed the first half with early foul trouble and had a frustrating 6-of-20 game shooting. Still, she scored a team-high 17 points and pulled seven rebounds.
UP NEXT:
TSU's Lady Tigers return to action Saturday when they visit Mississippi Valley State. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
TSU outscored its guests 41-9 during the second and third quarters as the host Lady Tigers led by as many 20 during that span. Texas Southern shot 56 percent (18 of 32) during the middle 20 minutes, compared to their 25-percent showing (6 of 24) during the first and fourth quarters.
Helping TSU's cause was the team's 53-29 advantage in rebounding. The host Lady Tigers pulled 18 offensive rebounds off Grambling's backboard, compared to just 13 defensive rebounds for the visitors.
Rebounding has consistently been the weak point for Grambling's otherwise strong and talented team. The visiting Lady Tigers secured 16 caroms in the fourth quarter – more than doubling their 13 rebounds through the first 30 minutes – as they outscored TSU 21-11.
TSU held a 55-35 lead after three quarters, which kept Grambling from getting closer than eight points the rest of the way. Still, the visitors forced nine of TSU's 23 turnovers during the final quarter.
GAME NOTES:
• Catherine Okwilagwe scored eight points and pulled in a career-high nine rebounds for Texas Southern.
• TSU improved to 11-0 when holding their opponents under 60 points.
• The Lady Tigers are now 12-1 when leading after halftime, as TSU took a 35-26 lead into the midgame break.
• Texas Southern's 23 turnovers – along with Grambling's 11 giveaways – resulted in TSU's worst turnover margin for any game this season.
• Head coach Jeanetta Hayes-Perry improved to 10-2 against Grambling in her coaching career. The Jackson State/Grambling State weekends have been her most successful as a SWAC coach, as she is 22-2 against the conference's "other Tigers." (The 22-2 record includes postseason wins over both teams.)
Courtesy: TSU Athletics