FINAL BOX | PHOTOS by Dave Winder
Final Score: Tennessee State 65 – Murray State 61
Records: TSU (2-18, 2-6 OVC) – MSU (6-12, 2-5 OVC)
Venue: GFSB Center
Location: Murray, Ky.
Murray, Ky. --- In a game that went down to the wire, the Tennessee State University women’s basketball team pulled out a hard-fought, 65-61, victory over Murray State Saturday night in the CFSB Center.
After falling behind by double-digits, Tennessee State (2-18, 2-6 OVC) continued to fight and cut the deficit down to single digits. The Lady Tiger stayed within striking distance and used a strong fourth quarter to secure the first road win of the season.
With 2:07 left in the game, TSU was trailing 60-55 when the Lady Tigers went on a 10-1 run to close out the game.
Redshirt sophomore Cebria Outlow exploded for a career-high 31 points to lead TSU while Tia Wooten added nine points and 13 rebounds.
Murray State (6-12, 2-5 OVC) was led in scoring by Macey Turley’s 20 points. Evelyn Adebayo recorded a double-double of 16 points and 18 rebounds.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- TSU Leaders
- Points: Cebria Outlow – 31
- Rebounds: Tia Wooten – 13
- Assists: Lauren Elliott -3
- Steals: Jaden Wrightsell – 5
- TSU outscored MSU 36-11 in bench points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- TSU was down 4-2 when MSU used a 7-0 run to go up, 11-2.
- Following a timeout, the Lady Tigers turned up their defensive pressure and took advantage of Racer turnovers.
- TSU rallied to cut the deficit down to just three points at the end of the first quarter.
- TSU started the second period with a 7-0 run fueled by buckets from Asia Sims and Cebria Outlow. The spurt allowed the Lady Tigers to take a 25-23 lead.
- Another scoring drought, however, saw MSU put up seven unanswered points to reclaim the advantage, 30-25.
- Murray State led, 36-31, at halftime.
- Neither team scored through the first three minutes of the third stanza.
- The Racers got on the board first and from there the teams traded scores.
- The score was 48-45 in favor of Murray State heading into the final quarter.
- A three-point play by Jaden Wrightsell closed the gap to, 50-48, at the 8:41 mark.
- TSU clawed to within one a few possessions later but MSU answered with a three-pointer to go back up, 57-53, with 3:46 remaining.
- TSU continued to fight and six straight points from Cebria Outlow once again brought the Lady Tigers to within one, 60-59, with 1:35 remaining.
- With 53.6 left on the clock, Cebria Outlow stepped up to the line to make two free-throws, giving TSU a 61-60 advantage.
- TSU got a stop on the next possession and after coming away with the rebound Outlow was fouled.
- She made one free-throw to give TSU a 62-60 lead with 39.4 seconds remaining.
- Murray State was fouled on the next play and made one of two.
- TSU was up, 62-61, with 31.5 on the clock.
- Andreana Wrister made one of two free-throws and TSU lead, 63-61, with 31.5 seconds remaining.
- TSU got a crucial stop on the next possession and Asia Sims was fouled.
- Sims made both to give TSU a 65-61 lead with 6.7 left.
- Murray State’s final three shot attempts were off the mark.
GAME NOTES
- Cebria Outlow scored a career-high 31 points and posted double-digits for the fourth time this season.
- Outlow played for the first time since the Dec. 21 game at Ball State.
- TSU picked up its 25th win in the all-time series versus Murray State and snapped a two-game losing skid to the Racers.
- TSU won its first road game of the season and snapped a four-game losing streak.
- Tia Wooten pulled down double-digit rebounds for the fifth time this season.
UP NEXT
- TSU returns home to host UT Martin on Thursday, Jan. 31 at 5:30 p.m. in the Gentry Center.
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