Clarksville, Tenn. --- Tennessee State University battled all night and came out on the winning end of an, 82-77, decision, on the road at Austin Peay Saturday night in the Dunn Center.

With the win, TSU improves to 8-13 (4-5 OVC) and claims the season series over Austin Peay (5-17, 2-8 OVC).

Kesi Hess paced the Lady Tigers in scoring with 17 points while Destiney Gaston and Jasmin Shuler each tallied 14. Avery Jones and Kim Haynes also scored in double-figures for the Lady Tigers as they both registered 10 points.

Austin Peay was led in scoring by Whitney Hanley's 30 points while Jasmin Rayner posted13 as Shelby Olszewski and Kaitlyn Hill added 10.

The game was tied, 4-4, when Kim Haynes made a three-pointer and sparked a 9-1 run that gave Tennessee State a, 13-5, advantage. Austin Peay answered with seven straight points to close within one before Kesi Hess nailed a triple to snap a three-minute scoring skid for TSU.

The Lady Tigers increased the lead to 22-18 following four unanswered points by Kim Haynes but Austin Peay responded with a, 9-0, run to take a, 27-22, advantage with about six minutes left in the first half.

At nearly the five-minute mark, Jasmin Shuler buried a 15-footer to end another (four-minute) scoring drought for the Lady Tigers. Chelsea Hudson hit a free-throw to tie the game at 27-all before a 6-0 rally made the score, 33-27, in favor of TSU.

The Lady Tigers carried a, 36-30, lead into the halftime break.

In the second half, Avery Jones scored four quick points to put TSU up, 40-30. A Lady Gov free-throw cut the deficit down to nine but the Lady Tigers went back ahead by double-digits on the next play.

A bucket by Chelsea Hudson made TSU's lead, 48-36, with four minutes ticked off the clock before Austin Peay rallied to cut the TSU lead down to, 50-44. After chipping at TSU's lead, APSU pulled within one, 58-57.

TSU used lay-ups from Destiney Gaston and Chelsea Hudson to go ahead, 63-57, but Austin Peay would not go away. The Lady Tigers were up, 67-64, with 5:05 on the clock and outscored the Lady Govs, 9-6, over the next  four minutes to go up, 76-70 with 54 seconds left to play.

Hanley scored to pull APSU within two but Kesi Hess knocked down a couple freebies to make TSU's lead, 78-72, with 35 seconds left.

Austin Peay closed within three, 80-77, with 11 seconds left but after being fouled, Hess buried another couple of free-throws to ice the win.

Tennessee State shot 42.4 percent (28-of-66) from the field and 29.4 percent (5-of-17) from three-point range. The Lady Tigers knocked down 75 percent (21-of-28) of their free-throws.

Austin Peay went 27-of-69 (39.1 percent) from the field and 6-of-21 (28.6 percent) from long range.

TSU held the edge in rebounds, 44-40, while both teams recorded 19 turnovers.

The Lady Tigers return to action on Monday, Jan. 30 when they take on the Skyhawks of UT Martin. Game time is slated for 7:15 p.m. in Skyhawk Arena.