Martin, Tenn. --- The Tennessee State women’s basketball team used
a late second half surge to help secure a 61-54 road win against UT-Martin at
Skyhawk Arena on Saturday night.
Tennessee State improves to 8-9 (4-2 OVC) while UT-Martin sinks to
2-13 (0-5 OVC).
Kendra Appling led all
scorers with 20 points in addition to seven rebounds while Charisse Hicks added
15 points for TSU. Tiffany Jackson recorded a team-high eight caroms in the
contest.
Yolanda Davis paced the
Skyhawk offense with 19 points while Alishia Glover tallied 16 points and 18
boards. Phylisha Mitchell pulled down 17 rebounds.
TSU scored the first four
points of the game and captured a 6-4 lead following a jumper by Kendra Appling
but then suffered through nearly a five minute scoring drought that saw the
Lady Tigers fall behind 14-6.
A made free-throw by Jasmine
Smith at the 9:30 ended the TSU scoring drought and sparked a rally that
included two lay-ups and a steal by Kendra Appling.
The Skyhawks continued to
hold on to the lead over the next several minutes of play until Charisse Hicks
nailed a triple from the corner to put the Lady Tigers on top 26-24.
TSU held a slight 32-29 advantage
at the break.
TSU opened the second half
with an empty possession and two turnovers, allowing UTM to capture a 33-32
lead.
The Lady Tigers answered
with a 4-0 run to reclaim the lead before the Skyhawks tied the game at
36-apiece with 14:10 on the clock.
Both teams traded buckets
over the next few minutes until TSU created a little distance behind two
back-to-back three-point bombs from Charisse Hicks to capture a 47-40 lead with
8:12 left in the game.
TSU then built the advantage
up to double-digits (57-47) after LaDona Pierce found Jasmine Smith under the
basket with a little over three minutes to play.
The Skyhawks cut the deficit
down to six with 1:49 on the clock but that would be as close as they would
get.
The Lady Tigers committed a
season low nine turnovers and forced the Skyhawks into 26 miscues.
TSU lost the battle of the
boards 50-34 and only shot 29.5% in the contest but the Lady Tigers held the
advantage where it counted, the final score.
The Lady Tigers will not
return to action until Saturday, Jan.17 when they host the Lady Govs of Austin
Peay in the Gentry
Center. Tip-off is
scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
