JACKSON, Miss. – The Lady Tigers of Texas Southern University overcame a third-quarter deficit and then withstood a late Jackson State comeback attempt Saturday en route to a 77-74 road victory.
Seven unanswered points by Texas Southern in the latter minutes of the fourth quarter gave the visiting Lady Tigers a six-point lead with less than four minutes to play, which proved to be just enough of a cushion to keep JSU at bay.
TSU's Joyce Kennerson scored a team-high 22 points, which included an 8-of-9 showing from the free throw line. Kaitlyn Palmer added 18 points for Texas Southern, going 7-of-13 from the field and making four out of her eight 3-pointers.
With the win, Texas Southern (7-8) improved to 2-2 in Southwestern Athletic Conference play. The Lady Tigers continue their two-game road trip Monday when they visit Grambling State for a 5:30 p.m. tipoff.
Christina Ellis scored a game-high 27 points for Jackson State (8-6, 3-2 SWAC), which dropped its second straight contest after opening SWAC play with three consecutive wins.
After Palmer knocked down her second 3-pointer of the fourth quarter with 3:58 remaining, Jackson State responded with five unanswered points to cut TSU's to 73-72. The hometown Tigers had an opportunity to reclaim the lead with approximately 100 seconds left in the quarter. JSU's shot was off the mark, and TSU's Nycolle Smith claimed the rebound.
TSU used the bulk of their shot clock time before Smith was fouled which sent her to the free throw line for the first time Saturday. The 6-foot post is a 77 percent free throw shooter, and she sank two clutch free throws for her only points of the game to go along with eight rebounds.
Jackson State responded with a layup with 59 seconds left, and then forced a turnover with 37 seconds remaining in the contest. But before JSU could take a go-ahead shot, TSU's Camille Mills forced a turnover and steal to give the ball back to the visitors. Another JSU foul sent Kennerson to the line, who made two free throws. JSU's last-second 3-point shot from Ellis missed to preserve the TSU win.
Texas Southern outrebounded their hosts 44-33 on Saturday; Jackson State had entered Saturday's contest as the leading rebounding team in the SWAC with nearly 50 boards a game, but were stifled by TSU, the SWAC team that gives up the fewest rebounds to its opponents.
The win was the 14th consecutive win for Texas Southern over Jackson State dating back to the 2012 SWAC Tournament.
Kennerson, the nation's leading scorer, saw her average fall from 26.3 points to 26.0 points per game. Ohio State's Kelsey Mitchell, the only other player in Division I averaging more than 25 points per game, scored only 15 in her team's win over Indiana on Saturday, which moved her from 26.2 points to 25.6 points per contest.
Taylor Robinson came off the TSU bench to score eight points and grab six rebounds, both of which marked TSU highs for the transfer from Temple University. Mills also scored eight points for TSU, while Isis Lane chipped in seven points for the visiting Lady Tigers.
Courtesy: TSU Athletics
Seven unanswered points by Texas Southern in the latter minutes of the fourth quarter gave the visiting Lady Tigers a six-point lead with less than four minutes to play, which proved to be just enough of a cushion to keep JSU at bay.
TSU's Joyce Kennerson scored a team-high 22 points, which included an 8-of-9 showing from the free throw line. Kaitlyn Palmer added 18 points for Texas Southern, going 7-of-13 from the field and making four out of her eight 3-pointers.
With the win, Texas Southern (7-8) improved to 2-2 in Southwestern Athletic Conference play. The Lady Tigers continue their two-game road trip Monday when they visit Grambling State for a 5:30 p.m. tipoff.
Christina Ellis scored a game-high 27 points for Jackson State (8-6, 3-2 SWAC), which dropped its second straight contest after opening SWAC play with three consecutive wins.
After Palmer knocked down her second 3-pointer of the fourth quarter with 3:58 remaining, Jackson State responded with five unanswered points to cut TSU's to 73-72. The hometown Tigers had an opportunity to reclaim the lead with approximately 100 seconds left in the quarter. JSU's shot was off the mark, and TSU's Nycolle Smith claimed the rebound.
TSU used the bulk of their shot clock time before Smith was fouled which sent her to the free throw line for the first time Saturday. The 6-foot post is a 77 percent free throw shooter, and she sank two clutch free throws for her only points of the game to go along with eight rebounds.
Jackson State responded with a layup with 59 seconds left, and then forced a turnover with 37 seconds remaining in the contest. But before JSU could take a go-ahead shot, TSU's Camille Mills forced a turnover and steal to give the ball back to the visitors. Another JSU foul sent Kennerson to the line, who made two free throws. JSU's last-second 3-point shot from Ellis missed to preserve the TSU win.
Texas Southern outrebounded their hosts 44-33 on Saturday; Jackson State had entered Saturday's contest as the leading rebounding team in the SWAC with nearly 50 boards a game, but were stifled by TSU, the SWAC team that gives up the fewest rebounds to its opponents.
The win was the 14th consecutive win for Texas Southern over Jackson State dating back to the 2012 SWAC Tournament.
Kennerson, the nation's leading scorer, saw her average fall from 26.3 points to 26.0 points per game. Ohio State's Kelsey Mitchell, the only other player in Division I averaging more than 25 points per game, scored only 15 in her team's win over Indiana on Saturday, which moved her from 26.2 points to 25.6 points per contest.
Taylor Robinson came off the TSU bench to score eight points and grab six rebounds, both of which marked TSU highs for the transfer from Temple University. Mills also scored eight points for TSU, while Isis Lane chipped in seven points for the visiting Lady Tigers.
Courtesy: TSU Athletics