Memphis, Tenn. --- The Tennessee State University women's basketball team fell to Memphis, 88-64, Thursday night in Elma Roane Fieldhouse.

TSU (3-5) nearly matched Memphis (6-1) point-for-point in the second half as the Lady Tigers scored 32 compared to Memphis' 33 points in the frame. It wasn't enough, however, to overcome a 23-point first half deficit.

Destiney Gaston led TSU with 20 points to go with eight rebounds while Jasmin Shuler added 15. Kesi Hess scored 13 points for the Lady Tigers while Simone Hopes hauled in 10 rebounds.

Memphis had four players to post double figures led by Brittany Carter's 25. Ramses Lonlack (17), Nicole Dickson (15) and Danay Collier (12) also registered double-digits.

Four straight turnovers and a missed shot by Tennessee State led to Memphis jumping out to a 9-0 lead two minutes into the game. TSU finally got on the board when Chelsea Hudson knocked down a couple of free-throws at the 17:44 mark.

A bucket by Alana Morris cut the TSU deficit down to five points before Memphis answered with a run that made the advantage 22-8.  With 10:38 left in the half, TSU pulled to within 10 behind a three-pointer from Kesi Hess and stayed within striking distance until U of M posted another run that put them on top, 55-32 at the half.

TSU had 14 first-half turnovers.

In the second half, TSU made several attempts to rally but the deficit proved too much to overcome. After trailing by as many as 31, the Lady Tigers pulled to within 20 down the stretch. U of M outscored TSU 7-3 in the final two minutes, however, to make the final score 88-64.

Tennessee State shot 32.4 percent (22-of-68) from the field, including 22.2 percent (6-of-27) from three-point range.

Memphis connected on 52.4 percent (33-of-63) of its shots from the field while knocking down 70 percent (7-of-10) from long range.

Neither team shot particularly well from the free-throw line as TSU finished the game with a 66.7 free-throw percentage (14-of-21) and U of M hit 55.6 percent (15-of-27) of its freebies.

TSU had 20 turnovers in the contest while U of M committed 18. The home team also held the advantage in rebounds, 46-38, assists, 24-14 and steals, 13-9.

The Lady Tigers return to action on Saturday when they host South Alabama in non-conference action. Game time is scheduled for 3 p.m. in the Gentry Center.