Box Score

Montgomery, Ala. — The Alabama State University women's basketball team twice held double-digit leads, but  netted free throws down the stretch from Tanika Jackson to secure  a 72-67 victory over the University of Alabama Friday night at the ASU Acadome.

With the win, ASU improves to 3-4 overall and captures just its third win in the all-time series against the Crimson Tide (4-4).

“I am really proud of how we grinded this one out,” ASU's head coach Freda Freeman-Jackson said. “We stayed focused and made plays when we needed to. The upperclassmen -- Jackson, Shanice Merritt and Briana Thomas -- played really well, along with our two point guards Jakayla Hill and Tandria Milton.  Our defense gelled together holding Alabama below 74 points and also kept them off of the offensive boards, which is something they normally do very well. It was an overall Lady Hornet basketball effort.”

Jackson led Alabama State with 18 points and 14 rebounds garnering her second double-double of the season. Thomas notched 14 points and five boards with Merritt netting 12 points to round out the double-digit scoring for the Lady Hornets.

Alabama led ASU in the first three minutes of the game before an energized Lady Hornets squad tied the game at 11 with 11:50 to play in the first half.

Bama State earned a 32-31 halftime lead after Tandria Milton dropped in a free throw with 28 seconds remaining in the half.

Alabama State built its biggest lead at 12 on a Briana Thomas layup at the 6:08 mark of the second half.  Over the next five minutes, Alabama outscored the Lady Hornets 5-0 to trim the margin to just five with less than two minutes left to play.

Jackson hit a pair of free throws to give ASU a nine-point advantage with 31 ticks left on the clock. On Alabama's next possession, Ericka Russell crossed midcourt and pulled up and knocked down a shot from the top of the arc.  A last second layup by Tierney Jenkins pulled Alabama within five, ending the game in a Lady Hornets 72-67 victory.

Jenkins scored 20 points and pulled down 10 rebounds to lead Alabama, followed by LaToya King with 14 points.

Alabama State now begins the first of two eight-day breaks, as the Lady Hornets don't return to action until Dec. 13th against Savannah State at Tiger Arena.