Courtesy of Tennessee State Athletics
Tennessee State women’s basketball received a strong spark from its bench Thursday night, totaling 22 points, but the Lady Tigers came up just short in a 65–60 setback to Eastern Illinois at the Gentry Center Complex.
Xai Whitfield paced Tennessee State (3-19, 2-11 OVC) with 14 points, while Erin Martin posted a well-rounded performance with eight points, a team-high 10 rebounds, and three blocks. Brianna Wooldridge provided a lift off the bench, finishing with nine points, seven rebounds, and four steals.
The Lady Tigers were active on the glass and in the paint, collecting 11 offensive rebounds that led to six second-chance points. Defensively, Tennessee State disrupted the Panthers throughout the night, recording five blocks and forcing 18 turnovers, highlighted by Martin’s three rejections.
How It Happened
After falling behind early, Tennessee State responded with a 5–0 run midway through the first quarter, capped by a Whitfield basket, to knot the score at 10–10. Eastern Illinois answered late in the period, sending the Lady Tigers into the second quarter trailing 16–14.
Tennessee State struggled to find rhythm offensively in the second quarter, managing just eight points as Eastern Illinois built a 33–22 halftime advantage.
The Panthers extended their lead early in the third, going up 35–22 before the Lady Tigers mounted a response. Tennessee State used a 6–0 spurt—punctuated by a Martin three-pointer—to trim the deficit to seven. The Lady Tigers knocked down three triples in the quarter and scored 19 points overall, but Eastern Illinois maintained control heading into the fourth, leading 50–41.
In the final period, Eastern Illinois pushed its advantage to 61–49 before Tennessee State made one last push. A 5–0 run brought the Lady Tigers within seven with under three minutes remaining, and Tennessee State continued to battle down the stretch, scoring 12 of its final 19 points in the paint. Despite the late surge, Eastern Illinois held on for the 65–60 victory.
Game Notes
- Tennessee State held Eastern Illinois to 38.3 percent shooting from the field.
- The Lady Tigers’ bench contributed 22 points.
- Tennessee State forced 18 turnovers and recorded five blocks as a team.
- The Lady Tigers grabbed 11 offensive rebounds.
- Whitfield led all Lady Tigers with 14 points.
- Martin pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds.
Team Statistics
| Game Stats | EIU | TSU |
|---|---|---|
| FG% | .383 | .362 |
| 3FG% | .381 | .238 |
| FT% | .611 | .591 |
| RB | 43 | 38 |
| TO | 18 | 18 |
| STL | 5 | 11 |
