FINAL BOX
Carbondale, Ill. --- Despite a hard fought contest, the Tennessee State University women's basketball team dropped a, 79-70, overtime decision to Southern Illinois in the final game of the Preseason WNIT Saturday night.
Tennessee State (1-2) battled the entire night but ran out of steam and was outscored 14-5 in the extra frame.
I'mani Davis led TSU in scoring for the second straight night with 19 points to go with eight rebounds. Jayda Johnson added 14 points while freshman Tiana Parker came off the bench to score 11. Samantha Palma finished the game with a career-high 10 points.
Although she struggled on the offensive end, senior Brianna Lawrence had a solid defensive effort, turning in a game-high eight steals to go with six rebounds.
Southern Illinois (2-1) was led by Dyana Pierre's 27 points and 21 rebounds. Rishonda Napier (19) and Kylie Giebelhausen (16) also scored in double-figures.
Both teams went toe-to-toe in the opening five minutes of play, resulting in an 11-11 tie at the first media timeout. The teams continued to trade buckets the duration of the period before SIU hit a three-pointer to go ahead, 22-19, just before end of the first quarter.
With just 59 seconds ticked off the clock in the next frame, SIU burned a timeout after five quick points from TSU. Despite TSU's burst, the score remained close.
The Lady Tigers were trailing, 29-28, when I'mani Davis scored five straight points to give TSU the lead, 33-29. The Salukis answered with a spurt to pull even but Diamond Beatty sank her third three-pointer of the half to give TSU a slight, 39-36, advantage heading into the halftime break.
Brianna Lawrence christened the second half with a three-pointer and Michelle Cox scored on the ensuing possession to make the score, 44-36, in favor of TSU. The Lady Tigers took a double-digit lead and forced another Southern Illinois timeout on a putback by Jayda Johnson at the 6:58 mark.
Out of the timeout, SIU scored its first points of the half and cut the deficit down to eight points. TSU maintained at least a six-point cushion until SIU pulled within five just before the end of the period.
In the fourth, the Lady Tigers were outscored 9-4 and saw their lead disappear with 6:33 left in the game. The contest was knotted at 56-all with 4:54 left to play.
The next few minutes were fiercely contested as neither team would give. SIU gained the advantage on a timely three-point play with just over a minute left to play.
TSU pulled within one, 63-62, with 28.9 seconds remaining but had to foul on the next play. SIU made both free-throws and the Lady Tigers trailed, 65-62, with only 12.5 on the clock. Following a timeout, TSU was able to advance the ball.
TSU's first shot attempt was off the mark but the Lady Tigers came away with the offensive rebound. After a scramble, Jayda Johnson was able to recover the ball. With seconds left, she buried a three-pointer from the corner to even the score. The game went to overtime when SIU's final shot attempt bounced off the rim.
In the extra period, the teams traded the lead until SIU was able to build a four-point advantage. I'mani Davis made a free-throw to pull TSU to within three but on the next possession SIU made two freebies to go up, 75-70, and essentially put the game out of reach with 30 seconds remaining.
TSU shot 37.3 percent from the field but only 14.3 percent (1-of-7) in overtime. The Lady Tigers also lost the battle of the boards, 47-39.
The Lady Tigers return to action on Tuesday, Nov. 24 at Big Ten member Illinois. Game time is set for 7 p.m. at Parkland College (State Farm Center is under renovation).
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