FINAL BOX

Final Score: Tennessee State 48 – South Alabama 70
Records: TSU (1-5) – South Alabama (3-4)
Venue: Mitchell Center
Location: Mobile, Ala.

NASHVILLE --- The Tennessee State University women's basketball team fell to South Alabama, 70-48, Saturday afternoon in the Mitchell Center.

Untimely scoring droughts led to the Lady Tigers falling behind by double-digits at halftime. Despite a good start to the third quarter and nearly matching the Jaguars in scoring the last two periods, TSU was unable to get back into the game.

Tennessee State (1-4) was led in scoring by Deaja Richardson. The freshman tallied a career-best 17 points and six steals in the contest.

TSU finished the game shooting 35.7 percent from the field, including 36.4 percent from three-point range.

USA (3-4) had three players to score in double-figures and won the battle of the boards, 50-33.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• TSU Leaders
  • Points: Deaja Richardson – 17
  • Rebounds: Keniece Purvis – 6
  • Assists: Jazmine Young – 3
  • Steals: Deaja Richardson - 6
• TSU had 15 steals in the contest.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Deaja Richardson got the game started with a three-pointer before another triple put Tennessee State on top, 6-2.
• South Alabama pulled even and, from there, the teams traded buckets.
• TSU fell behind, 14-11, at the 3:20 mark and trailed, 20-13 at the end of the first quarter.
• The Lady Tigers held the Jaguars scoreless in through the opening four minutes of the second period but couldn't take advantage of the disparity.
• TSU cut the deficit down to, 20-17, during that timeframe but a three-pointer by the opponent ended the drought and sparked a momentum shifting 14-2 run.
• USA led, 36-21, at the half.
• The Lady Tigers came out reenergized in the third frame.
• Eight unanswered points by the road team cut USA's lead down to single digits with 6:40 on the clock.
• The Jaguars, however, responded with a 13-0 run to regain a double-digit cushion.
• Deaja Richardson knocked down her third three-pointer of the game to end TSU's six-minute scoring drought but USA had stretched its advantage to, 51-34, heading into the final stanza.
• Buckets from Jaden Wrightsell and Megan Kent gave TSU the first four points of the fourth quarter but South Alabama remained in control of the game.
• In the fourth quarter, TSU continued to fight but the deficit was too much to overcome.

GAME NOTES

• USA leads the all-time series 4-1.
• USA has won three in a row.
• Deaja Richardson led TSU in scoring for the second consecutive game.
• TSU held the advantage in bench points, 19-18.
• Jaden Wrightsell saw her first action since the Tennessee game.

UP NEXT

• Tennessee State will return to action on Sunday, December 8 against Lipscomb. Game time is set for 2 p.m. in Gentry Center.  

 #BigBlueRising