Nashville --- Despite squandering nearly a 20-point lead, the Tennessee State
University women’s basketball team
held on to defeat Grambling 80-78 Tuesday afternoon in the Gentry Center.
With the
win, Tennessee State (5-8) snapped a two-game losing
skid and remained undefeated at home. Grambling (2-8) dropped its third
straight.
Senior
Kendra Appling led TSU with a game-high 20 points while sophomore Jasmine Smith
picked up her first career double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Smith
also had six assists and six steals in the game. After getting into early foul
trouble, Tiffany Jackson finished the game with 14 points.
TSU lost
the battle of the boards 54-38 but dished out 19 assists to GSU’s 12.
TSU carried
a 44-30 lead into halftime and built the advantage up to 52-34 within the first
three minutes of the second half. GSU wouldn’t go away and managed to cut the
deficit down to 11 (52-41) at the 14:30 mark.
With TSU
holding a 66-54 lead, GSU used an 18-7 scoring run to cut the Lady Tiger lead
down to just one (73-72) with 1:28 to play.
With just
over 30 seconds left on the clock, a steal and two made free-throws by Kendra
Appling gave TSU a 77-72 lead. Grambling came to within two with :01 left on
the clock but TSU was able to pull out the close win.
The Lady
Tigers will next match-up with OVC opponent Eastern
Kentucky at home on Saturday. Game time is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
in the Gentry Center.
