NASHVILLE, TENN. - The Tennessee State Lady Tigers let a hot start go to waste as they lost to the Cleveland State Vikings 66-59 Sunday afternoon at the Gentry Center.

TSU (3-6) made six of their first eight shots on the way to a commanding 16-3 advantage in the first six minutes, 20 seconds. Despite the good shooting early on, the Lady Tigers shot just 34.8 percent from the field. It's the sixth time in nine games this season that TSU has shot under 35 percent.

Cleveland State (5-4) chipped away at the 13 point deficit pulling to within one with three minutes left in the half.

TSU went into halftime with a five point edge, 29-24.

The Vikings took their first lead of the game with 13:11 remaining. It was the early stages of a 15-4 run over 5:20 that ended with TSU trailing 46-39.

The Lady Tigers fought back and retook the lead twice in the final six minutes; once on a Tanesha Stenson free throw and on a Kesi Hess layup. There was a pair of ties and four lead changes over that span.

A Jasmin Shuler layup knotted the game up at 57 with 2:59 left, but CSU closed the game scoring seven of the final nine points. TSU missed six of their last seven shots in the final 2:16.

Shuler and Rachel Allen each had a team best 11 points, while Simone Hopes also scored in double figures with 10.

Shalonda Winton of CSU led all players with 17 points and 13 rebounds.

The Vikings outrebounded TSU 42-33 and attempted 17 more free throws (26-9). The Lady Tigers did win the turnover battle forcing 17 CSU miscues vs. just eight for the Big Blue.

TSU returns to the court on Tuesday as they head across town to take on Lipscomb (1-7) at 6 p.m.

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