NASHVILLE – Tennessee State women's basketball continues Ohio Valley Conference road play Saturday, traveling to Little Rock, Ark., to take on Little Rock at 1 p.m.

The Lady Tigers enter the weekend looking to build on competitive performances in league action, including a strong comeback win over Southeast Missouri State and a hard-fought road contest at Tennessee Tech. Tennessee State has shown growth on both ends of the floor, particularly on the glass, defensively, and through balanced contributions across the lineup.

LAST TIME OUT
Tennessee State battled on the road Tuesday night but came up short in a 69–63 loss at Tennessee Tech. The Lady Tigers held the Golden Eagles to just 34.3 percent shooting and controlled the boards with a 43–38 rebounding advantage, including 14 offensive rebounds that led to 11 second-chance points.

Xai Whitfield led TSU with 16 points, while Erin Martin added 15 points and seven rebounds. Amiyah Ferguson contributed seven points and seven rebounds, and Brianna Wooldridge anchored the paint with five rebounds and a block. Tennessee State's bench provided 30 points, and the Lady Tigers forced 14 turnovers, converting them into 16 points.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHTS
Xai Whitfield continues to lead Tennessee State in conference play, averaging 8.5 points per game and a team-high 33 assists. She has scored in double figures in multiple OVC games, including a 22-point performance against SEMO and a team-high 16 points at Tennessee Tech.

Erin Martin remains a key interior presence, averaging 8.4 points and a team-best 4.8 rebounds while leading the Lady Tigers with 10 blocks. She followed up a strong performance against SEMO with 15 points and seven rebounds on the road at Tennessee Tech.

Brianna Wooldridge provides physicality and rebounding inside, averaging 4.5 points and 3.3 rebounds in league action. She pulled down 14 rebounds against Tennessee Tech, including three offensive boards, continuing to impact games on the glass.

Sadie Sanchez adds instant offense off the bench, averaging 8.2 points per game. She was a major factor in TSU's comeback win over SEMO, scoring 15 points and knocking down four three-pointers.

BY THE NUMBERS
– Tennessee State is holding conference opponents to under 35 percent shooting in recent games.
– The Lady Tigers have won the rebounding battle in back-to-back OVC contests.
– TSU's bench has produced 57 points over its last two conference games.
– Tennessee State forced 14 turnovers and scored 16 points off takeaways at Tennessee Tech.

SERIES HISTORY
Saturday's matchup marks the eighth meeting all-time between Tennessee State and Little Rock. Little Rock leads the series 6–1, with a cumulative scoring edge of 466–408.

In the series, Little Rock has averaged 66.6 points per game, while Tennessee State has averaged 58.3. Despite the historical edge, recent matchups have been competitive as the Lady Tigers continue to gain experience and confidence in conference play.

WHAT TO WATCH
– TSU's rebounding edge: Tennessee State has controlled the glass in recent games and will look to continue creating second-chance opportunities.
– Defensive pressure: The Lady Tigers have forced 14 or more turnovers in multiple OVC contests.
– Balanced scoring: TSU has had multiple players in double figures in recent games, with strong bench contributions.

UP NEXT
Following Saturday's matchup, Tennessee State will continue Ohio Valley Conference play as the Lady Tigers return home for their next stretch of league action.