Richmond, Ky.
--- The Tennessee State University women’s basketball team held off Eastern
Kentucky’s late second half comeback to claim a 67-56 win at McBrayer Arena on
Saturday night.
Tennessee State (12-10, 8-3 OVC) saw a 21-point lead dwindle
down to just six over a span of six minutes but still managed to hold off Eastern Kentucky (6-14, 3-8 OVC) down the
stretch.
Three Lady Tigers posted double-digits in scoring led by
Kendra Appling’s 14 points. Jasmine Smith picked up her fourth double-double of
the year with 13 points and a game-high 14 boards while Charisse Hicks tallied
11 points.
Kayla Drake led the Colonels with 24 points. Collette Cole
(14) and Cherie White (10) also notched double figures for EKU.
After empty possessions from both teams to begin the game,
TSU got on the board after Kendra Appling connected in the lane. EKU answered
right back and briefly took a 4-2 lead at the 16:21 mark.
A triple from Jasmine Smith at the top of the key put TSU
back on top 5-4 and sparked a 16-6 run that saw TSU jump out to a 21-10
lead.
Four straight points from Collette Cole cut the TSU
advantage down to 21-14 but a break away lay-up from Tiffany Jackson and jumper
from Kierra Goodwin put the Lady Tigers back on top 25-14.
TSU led 28-20 at halftime.
EKU scored the first points of the second half but TSU
responded with 14 unanswered points over the next seven minutes to capture a
42-22 lead.
The Colonels used a 10-2 run that brought the score to 47-34
but an 8-0 run, including six points from Meredith Stafford, increased the TSU
lead back up to to 55-34.
Not to be denied, however, EKU used yet another rally to cut
the deficit down to single digits (56-47) with 3:02 left to play.
Costly turnovers by the Lady Tigers coupled with a few three
point bombs from Kayla Drake brought the Colonels to within six, 62-56, with a
little under one minute left.
That however would be as close as they would get as the Lady
Tigers knocked down five free-throws in the final 30 seconds to secure the
67-56 win.
The Lady Tigers return to their home court on Wednesday when
they host the Racers of Murray State in the Gentry Center.
Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. in the Gentry Center.
