FINAL BOX
Morehead, Ky. --- The Tennessee State University women's basketball team snapped a five-game road losing skid after defeating Morehead State, 68-60, Wednesday night in Johnson Arena.
Tennessee State (12-16, 6-8 OVC) was led in scoring by Jayda Johnson who posted a double-double of 23 points and 12 rebounds while Brianna Lawrence added 15 points and eight rebounds. Diamond Beatty came off the bench to score 12 points as I'mani Davis just missed a double-double with 12 boards and eight points.
Miranda Crockett paced Morehead State (9-20, 3-12 OVC) with 15 points and 12 rebounds while Natalie Greenwell (13), Shay Steele (12) and Brianna McQueen (10) also reached double-digits.
TSU got off to a good start and jumped out to a 12-2 lead before the first media timeout. Out of the break, Diamond Beatty knocked down a three-pointer to make the score, 15-2, before the Lady Tiger offense went cold.
MSU used a 6-0 spurt to chip away at the lead before Brianna Lawrence connected in the paint to end the scoring drought.
The Lady Tigers managed to build another double-digit lead in the second quarter but the Eagles used another rally to pull within six.
TSU moved ahead, 32-22, when Tyesha Hood dropped in a bank shot with just over a minute left in the first half. The Lady Tigers went into the break leading, 33-24.
In the second half, Maxine Beard dished a no-look pass over to Jayda Johnson before I'mani Davis scored following an offensive rebound to extend the TSU advantage to 43-29. The Lady Tigers were outscored 11-6, over the next few minutes as the lead shrank to 51-42 heading into the final quarter.
The start of the fourth quarter was a rocky one for TSU as the opponent scored six unanswered points to pull within three. The Lady Tigers went without a field goal for almost five minutes until Sam Palma sank a jumper nearly halfway through the frame.
TSU was holding on to a 55-50 lead at the final media timeout. Brianna Lawrence made a couple free-throws to give the visitors a seven-point cushion but the home team answered with a three-pointer on the other end to close within four.
With 36.5 seconds remaining Diamond Beatty made the first of two freebies to make the score, 59-54. On the Eagles' next possession they turned the ball over were forced to foul. Beatty stepped up to make both from the charity stripe to extend TSU's lead to 61-54.
Morehead State, however, would not go away and buried a triple from the top of the key on the next trip down the floor. On the ensuing possession, TSU once again sank two timely free-throws. MSU's next three-point attempt was off the mark and Jayda Johnson came away with the rebound. Despite another made triple by the opponent, the Lady Tigers were able to keep the Eagles at bay.
Tennessee State returns to action on Sunday in the regular season finale against Belmont. Game time is set for noon in the Gentry Center.
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