Nashville, Tenn. --- Tennessee State University Junior
Jasmin Shuler exploded for a career-high 38 points to lead the Lady Tigers to
an, 86-80, overtime victory over Morehead State Thursday night in the Gentry
Center.
Tennessee State (7-12, 3-4 OVC) saw its, 39-32, halftime
lead disappear after Morehead State opened the second stanza with a 17-2 run
but the Lady Tigers clawed from behind late to force overtime. In the extra
frame, TSU outscored MSU, 10-4 to seal the win.
Jasmin Shuler posted a career-high 38 points to lead TSU
while Avery Jones tallied 12 points and nine rebounds. Kesi Hess came off the
bench to score 10 points for the Lady Tigers.
Linda Dixon had 27 points and eight rebounds for Morehead
State while Ashar Harris recorded a double-double with 19 points and 16
rebounds. Courtney Lumpkin also tallied 19 points for the Eagles.
TSU was trailing, 10-7, when Jasmin Shuler knocked down her
second three-pointer of the game to even the score. TSU went ahead, 14-10,
following a bucket by Destiney Gaston but MSU answered with a triple to close
within one.
The Lady Tigers built another, 19-13, lead but the Eagles
responded with a run to pull even at 21-all.
The lead went back-and-forth until TSU used an 8-1 run to
close out the half and carry a, 39-32, lead into the break.
TSU saw its halftime lead disappear within a matter of
minutes as the visitors used a 17-2 run to grab a, 49-41, lead at the 15:12
mark.
A three pointer by MSU put the Eagles on top, 53-42, before
a triple by Jasmin Shuler sparked a 7-0 run that cut the deficit down to,
53-49.
The Lady Tigers pulled to within four on a couple of occasions
before the Eagles stretched the advantage to 71-63 with 4:54 left in game.
Down the stretch, Morehead State seemed to be in control but
Tennessee State continued to fight. Kesi Hess knocked down a three-pointer to
pull TSU within five, but MSU hit a couple of freebies to go on top, 73-66,
with 3:32 left to play.
On TSU's trip down the floor, Jasmin Shuler hit two
free-throws before nailing a triple to chop the deficit down to two, 73-71,
with 2:47 remaining. Avery Jones pulled down an offensive rebound and scored a
putback to even the game at 73-all.
A lay-up and a free-throw gave the lead back to MSU before
Kim Haynes knocked down a three-pointer from near the top of the key to knot
the score, 76-76, with 47 seconds left.
After the Eagles missed two three-point shot attempts, TSU
came away with the rebound with seconds remaining. The Lady Tigers were unable
to get off a shot and the game went to overtime.
In the extra frame, Kesi Hess knocked down a jumper to get
TSU on the board. Jasmin Shuler followed with a bucket before an old fashioned
three-point play by Hess gave the Lady Tigers an, 83-76, lead (2:58).
MSU scored its first point of the extra frame at the 2:44
mark on a free-throw by Ashar Harris and pulled within five on another freebie
by Courtney Lumpkin.
The Eagles cut the Lady Tiger lead down to four, 84-80, with
less than a minute to play but that would be as close as they would get. Kim
Haynes hit a free-throw with seven seconds left to ice the win.
Tennessee State shot 50.8 percent (32-of-63) from the field
in the win, including 46.7 percent (7-of-15) from three-point range. Morehead
State went 25-of-77 (32.5 percent) from the field while only connecting on 24.3
percent (9-of-37) of its three-pointers.
Despite committing 26 turnovers, TSU held the advantage in
rebounds, 51-44.
The Lady Tigers return to action on Monday, Jan.23 when they
travel to Charleston, Ill. to face the Panthers of Eastern Illinois. Game time
is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Lantz Arena.
