image via Tennessee State Athletics
Overcoming a rough first half and a double-digit deficit, the Tennessee State Lady Tigers were able to persevere and claim a 70-66 win Thursday afternoon at the Gentry Center.
Tennessee State got off to a frigid start, shooting an artic 15.8% (3-19) from the field and 1-10 from downtown in a first-quarter In which they never led, and were fortunate to only find themselves down 15-8 after the opening period of play.
The Lady Tigers’ offense continued to sputter in the second quarter, shooting just 3-13 from the floor, connecting on just 2-6 from the charity stripe as they turned in another 8-point quarter and were on the wrong end of a 30-16 halftime deficit.
TSU would continue to play uphill but would fall behind by as much as 35-18 on a converted and-one from Raegan McGowan at the 8:32 mark. Lyric Cole’s steal and layup made the score 40-31, the first time the deficit was single digits since the 5:25 mark of the second quarter. Tennessee State sliced the Western Illinois lead to 48-46 on Saniah Parker’s jumper just before the end of the quarter.
The Lady Tigers tied the game at 48 on XaiOnna Whitfield’s jumper on their first possession of the period. WIU reclaimed the lead, 50-48, on their next possession on a McCowan jumper. TSU took their first lead of the afternoon 52-51 when Parker converted a layup at the 8:06 mark. The contest would be knotted at 54, 56, 57, the last of which came with 4:39 remaining in the game. Over the next 3:14, the game was a back-and-forth affair, that featured 7 lead changes and a tie until Cole’s layup put Tennessee State up 65-63 with 1:25 left in the game. A pair of Leatherneck turnovers would retard Western’s efforts to get back in the game, great Tennessee State to secure a 70-66 victory
Saniah Parker led the Lady Tigers with 18 points as well as a team-high 6 assists. Somah Komara scored 17 points and Lyric had a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds.
In a losing effort, Reagan McCowan led the Leathernecks with 22 points and 12 rebounds. Mallory McDermott and Addi Brownfield scored 12 points apiece, while Nia Micastro chipped in 11 points.
The Lady Tigers,(7-16, 3-10) are winners of 2 consecutive games, return to action at home Saturday at 1 pm CST against Lindenwood.
