NASHVILLE --- In a game that came down to the final minutes, the Tennessee State University women's basketball team gutted out a, 69-60, win over cross-town opponent Lipscomb University Tuesday night in Allen Arena.

TSU trailed by double-digits in the first half but used key rallies in the contest to pull out the victory. With the win, Tennessee State (4-6) extended its all-time series record over Lipscomb to 18-3.

The Lady Bisons fell to 1-8 on the season.

Jasmin Shuler paced the TSU offense with a season-high 24 points to go with three steals. Chelsea Hudson also recorded double-figures with 10 points and eight rebounds.

Freshman Brianna Lawrence came off the bench to register seven points, four rebounds, three blocks and three steals. 

Early in the first half, the score was tied at 5-all when Lipscomb used a 7-0 run to capture a 12-5 advantage. After another spurt, the Lady Bisons went ahead by double-digits with about eight minutes left in half.

An offensive rebound and putback by Chelsea Hudson followed by Avery Jones' layup in the paint sparked a TSU rally that would shift the momentum to the Lady Tigers.

TSU turned up its defensive pressure and outscored LU, 16-5, to close out the first half. The Lady Tigers led, 26-25, at halftime.

Jasmin Shuler drained a triple from the top of the key to christen the second half before Avery Jones scored to make the tally, 31-25, in favor of TSU.

Lipscomb stayed within striking distance and pulled to within one twice before regaining the lead with consecutive three-pointers.

Over the next several possessions the teams traded buckets and the lead wavered back and forth. Lipscomb took advantage of a couple TSU turnovers and went ahead, 53-49 but Jasmin Shuler answered with back-to-back buckets to pull the Lady Tigers even (6:51).

On TSU's next trip down the floor, Brianna Lawrence nailed her second three-pointer of the game to put the Lady Tigers on top, 56-53. Despite Lipscomb threatening, Tennessee State would not trail again.

As time ticked off the clock, TSU was holding on to a slight, 60-58 when Jasmin Shuler buried a 15-footer to give the Lady Tigers a four-point cushion with less than a minute remaining.

When Lipscomb was forced to foul, Tennessee State knocked down seven free-throws to seal the win.

TSU dominated the boards, 40-29, shot 43.8 percent (21-of-48) from the field and knocked down 24-of-34 free-throws (70.6 percent). The Lady Tigers also tallied 12 steals and five blocks in the contest.

The Lady Tigers will break for the Christmas holiday before returning to action on Saturday, Dec. 29 in the first Ohio Valley Conference action of the season against Eastern Illinois. Game time is slated for 5:30 p.m. in the Gentry Center.

---tsutigers---