FLORENCE, Ala. — Elise Harden dropped 21 points and pulled down eight rebounds in 17 minutes off the bench to lead Tennessee State over North Alabama 83-71 on Tuesday evening at Flowers Hall. The win puts the Lady Tigers at 3-2 on the season and will face Western Kentucky on Sunday. 

Dominique Claytor posted her second consecutive double-double of the season with 15 points and 11 rebounds in 29 minutes. The Tigers also got double-figure contributions from two other players. Tatyana Davis added 14 points and Gia Adams had 12 points. 

Kianni Westbrook nearly had a double-double with seven points and 10 rebounds in just 10 minutes on the court. 

The Lady Tigers 40-31 at the half with Harden and Claytor playing an important role in the offensive production from the visitors. TSU took an early six-point lead in the first quarter, 9-3, after Westbrook scored the team's third straight layup. The Lady Tigers pounced on their opponent late in the frame and held a 15-6 edge with 2:18 left off Harden's fast-break layup. 

North Alabama put up a fight in the second quarter and erased a 10-point disadvantage with 10 straight points before the pendulum quickly swung back in favor of TSU who used its run to regain the double-digit lead 30-20. 

The second half saw the Lions pry within one possession in the third quarter, but every time the Lady Tigers answered back. After dwindling its lead to 55-53, TSU bounced back late in the third and carried a seven-point lead, 61-54, into the final period. 

TSU never looked back in the fourth and cruised to a double-digit lead the rest of the way.

The Lady Tigers shot 48 percent from the field and outrebounded the Lions 49-30. The team netted half of its points from inside the paint with 44 and moved at a fast pace with 28 points on the fast break. 

Julia Stratchan paced the Lions with 17 points and was one of four in double figures. Macey lee added 16 points and eight rebounds.