Image via Tennessee State Athletics
The Tennessee State Lady Tigers came out of the gates in the first quarter firing on all cylinders, shooting a scalding 70% from the field and a perfect 3-3 from downtown. However TSU connected in just 37% of their field goal attempts the rest of the game, meanwhile their Lindenwood opponents, offensively speaking, got better as the game went on, knocking down 53% (24-45) of their field goal attempts and 52% (11-21) from three point range over that same time span and went on to a comfortable 91-58 beating of the Lady Tigers.
Despite the hot shooting, the Lady Tigers found themselves trailing after the first period’s end, 24-18, as 7 turnovers stymied TSU’s efforts.
Lindenwood continued to show the way in the second period. Tennessee State drew to within four points on two occasions, 30-26 and 32-28, an 8-0 spurt over the last 3:08 put the Lady Lions up 40-28 as the game headed into halftime.
The Lady Tigers were not able to make up,any ground as Lindenwood built a 21-point lead at 56-36 on Mya Skoff’s three-pointer at the 5:15 mark of the period. The Lions, buoyed by 56.3% (9-16) outscored Tennessee State 25-14 in the frame and took a 65-42 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Tennessee State only scored a single basket, a Brianna Wooldridge layup, in the first 4:53 of the period. Lindenwood scored 14 points in that time span, building their lead to 79-44. Lindenwood did not take its foot off the gas, building its lead to as much as 37 at 83-46 on a pair of Valerie Norwood free throws at the 4:37 mark. Their lead would never drop below 30 and the Lions would go on to a comfortable 91-58 victory.
Somah Kamara led three Lady Tigers in double figures with 13 points. Despite being in foul trouble for large portions of the game, Brianna Wooldridge scored 11 points and Xai Whitfield added 10 points of her own.
Brooke Coffey paced the victors with 24 points. Aleshia Jones put in 22 points; Ellie Bruggemann chipped in with 16 points, while Valerie Norwood contributed 10 points.
Tennessee State (3-16, 2-5) looks to end its three-game skid when it returns to action Tuesday when they host Tennessee Tech. Tip-off is scheduled for 5 p.m. CST.
