Nashville --- The Tennessee State University women's basketball team defeated Southeast Missouri, 54-50, Saturday night in the Gentry Center.

With the win, TSU improved to 3-4 (1-1 OVC) while SEMO fell to 2-5 (0-2 OVC).

Junior Jasmine Smith recorded her first double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Freshman Destiney Gaston also pulled down a career-best 10 rebounds.

Bailie Roberts led SEMO with 12 points while Lesley Adams pulled down a game-high 13 boards.

Early in the first half, Tennessee State fell behind 6-0 as a result of two three pointers by Southeast Missouri. Back-to-back buckets from Avery Jones, however, got TSU on the board and made the score 6-4.

With the game tied, 10-10, SEMO used an 8-3 run to capture an 18-13 lead. Moments later, a jumper by Simone Hopes sparked a run that saw TSU score seven unanswered points and take the lead, 20-18.

TSU carried a 25-23 lead into the locker room.

SEMO opened the second half by scoring six straight points to go ahead 29-25 but TSU tied the game (29-29) at the 14:40 mark. From there the score remained close as both teams battled.

With 5:27 on the clock, TSU grabbed a 45-40 lead after Kesi Hess nailed a three-pointer from the corner. The Redhawks answered right back with a triple of their own to cut the Lady Tiger lead back down to 45-43. A jumper by Jasmine Smith put TSU back on top by four but SEMO closed to within two on the ensuing possession.

With the Lady Tigers holding on to a slight 49-47 lead, a three-point bomb from Kesi Hess made the score 52-47 with 1:26 left to play.

SEMO missed a three-point attempt with 14 seconds left on the clock but knocked down two free-throws to come to within three (53-50). With four seconds left, Kesi Hess made the first of two free-throws to go up 54-50. SEMO's final shot attempt bounced off the rim. 

Tennessee State shot 32.3 percent (20-of-62) from the field and 18 percent (3-of-16) from beyond the arc. Southeast Missouri was 15-of-55 (27.3 percent) from the field and 5-of-19 (26.3 percent) from three point range.

The Lady Tigers will return to action on Tuesday when they travel to Athens to take on SEC opponent Georgia.