After getting their biggest and most impressive win of the season over conference-leading Western Illinois in their last outing, the Lady Tigers were able to chase that with another win, as they decisively fell to Southern Indiana 81-55. It was a competitive game in the early to mid stages, with it a three-point game late in the third quarter, but Tennessee State appeared to wear down, and the game got away from the Lady Tigers in the fourth quarter.
Despite the Lady Tigers limiting the Lady Screaming Eagles to 38.1 % ( 27-70) shooting from the floor, they were even worse, connecting on just 35.2 % (19-54) of their field goal attempts and a microscopic 7.1% (1-14) from downtown. Turnovers and offensive rebounds also had a deleterious effect on TSU’s victory aspirations. The Lady Tigers committed 24 miscues which turned into 26 USI points. TSU was also crushed on the boards, 53 to 32, and gave up 26 offensive rebounds and 31 second-chance points.
The first quarter was a closely contested affair. Although USI jumped out to a 7-0 lead, Tennessee State battled back to take a 10-9 lead on Xai Whitfield’s layup with 3:49 left in the period.
After the teams swapped the lead, Tennessee State jumped back out in front 13-12 on the first of a pair of Aaniya Webb free throws and took a 17-16 lead into the second quarter.
USI took the lead, 19-17 after Shannon Blacher connected from downtown just 21 seconds into the quarter. The Lady Tigers trailed for the remainder of the period, trimming the Screaming Eagles’ lead to as little as 2 points but could get no closer, and trailed 33-28 at halftime.
TSU took its first lead since the first quarter at 37-35 on Erin Martin’s layup at the 6:45 mark of the third quarter. The Lady Tigers’ time in front was short-lived as Amiyah Buchanan’s jumper knotted the contest at 37 and then USI reclaimed the lead, 39-37, via a pair of Ali Saunders free throws. Tennessee State pulled back even at 39 on a pair of free throws from Aaniya Webb at the 4:20 mark of the period.
Sophia Loden’s shot from downtown pushed Southern Indiana back in front 42-39. A 9-2 spurt gave the Lady Screaming Eagles their first double-digit lead of the evening at 51-41 and carried a 55-43 advantage in the game’s final quarter.
The Lady Tigers only got as close as 10 points on two occasions, USI soon pulled away, outscoring Tennessee State 26-12 in the frame, and building as large as an 81-53 lead on the way to the 81-55 victory.
Xai Whitfield led two Lady Tigers in double figures with 16 points but shot just 5-16 from the field. Erin Martin, the other Lady Tiger in double figures, chipped in with 11 points.
Tennessee State returns to action February 14 when they head to Morehead, KY to take on Morehead State, whom they defeated 70-62 on January 15. The tip is scheduled for Noon CST.
