Final Box
DeLand, Fla. --- The Tennessee State University women's basketball team overcame a double-digit deficit in a, 56-50, win over host Stetson Tuesday afternoon on day two of the Hatter Classic.
TSU improved to 5-5 while Stetson (11-3) suffered its third loss of the season.
Olivia Jones who led TSU with 17 points and eight rebounds was named MVP while I'mani Davis was also selected to the All-Tournament Team. Diamond Beatty tallied 10 points for the Lady Tigers in the win.
TSU trailed by as many as 12 points before outscoring Stetson 19-5 in the fourth quarter to pull out the win. The victory extended the team's winning streak to four.
A three-pointer by Olivia Jones gave TSU a slight 8-6 lead over Stetson before the first media timeout. The teams traded buckets over the next several possessions before a three-pointer by Ciara Pettis put TSU on top, 17-16, at the end of the first quarter. Stetson went 10-of-10 from the free-throw line in the opening stanza.
In the second quarter, Stetson rallied off 11 unanswered points to take a double-digit lead, 27-17. TSU went seven minutes without a bucket and ended up being outscored 15-5 in the second frame. The Lady Tigers trailed, 31-22, at the break.
TSU began chipping away at the lead in the third quarter and pulled to within five, 37-32, with 4:38 on the clock. Maxine Beard found Diamond Beatty in the corner for a triple to cut the deficit down to just one point but SU responded with seven unanswered points to go back up, 45-37.
In the final quarter, five quick points from TSU made the score, 45-42, in favor of the home team. Stetson scored on its next possession but a steal and break-away lay-up by I'mani Davis pulled the Lady Tigers within three, 47-44, at the 6:56 mark.
Another defensive stop and subsequent score once again pulled TSU to within one, 47-46, with 6:29 remaining. The next two minutes featured empty possessions by both teams.
Tennessee State grabbed the lead, 48-47, following an offensive rebound and putback by Olivia Jones. With time winding down, TSU built a 52-47 lead on back-to-back buckets from Tia Wooten and Jayda Johnson.
TSU was up 52-48 with 36.9 seconds left when Stetson was forced to foul . The opponent closed to within three, 53-50, with 16.9 remaining but Olivia Jones knocked down two clutch free-throws to give TSU a five-point cushion.
The Lady Tigers were able to keep the Hatters at bay.
TSU held the advantage in steals, 9-3, and forced Stetson into 16 turnovers. The Lady Tigers shot 41.2 percent (7-of-17) from three-point range.
Tennessee State returns to action on Dec. 31 at Murray State in the OVC opener. Game time is set for 1 p.m. in the CFSB Center.
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