MONTGOMERY, Ala. – On the strength of a solid defensive performance the Alabama State University women's basketball team posted a 56-42 victory over Texas Southern Saturday afternoon at the Dunn-Oliver Acadome.
ASU (7-10, 4-4 SWAC) snapped a three-game losing skid by holding TSU (8-11, 5-3 SWAC) to just 19 percent shooting for the game. The Lady Tigers made only 10 field goals in the game and missed all four of their three-point attempts.
Shanice Merritt and
Jakayla Hill each scored 13 points to lead the Lady Hornets.
Tanika Jackson pulled down a team-best 10 rebounds and Merritt swatted six shots for Bama State.
Jasmine Cannon finished with 12 points as the only TSU player in double digits while teammate Trikeyia East led all players with 11 boards.
For much of the first half points were difficult to come by for both squads. ASU held a slight 11-8 lead after 10 minutes of action in the opening frame before scoring the next seven points during a two-minute surge to build a double-digit advantage, 18-8, at the 7:46 mark.
The defenses continued to dominate play at the close of the first period with the two squads combining for just eight points in final five minutes. The Lady Hornets did end the half on a 6-2 run to hold a 26-14 lead at the break.
TSU made just 2-of-24 (8 percent) shots from the floor in the first half but collected 10 free throws with their attacking style to put points on the board. ASU shot 40 percent (12-30 FGs) through the first 20 minutes and benefitted from blocking seven shots and forcing 10 Lady Tiger turnovers.
The Lady Hornets maintained a double-figure advantage for the entire second half as ASU continued to dominate play on the defensive end. Alabama State led by as many as 17 points on several occasions in the second period and Texas Southern got no closer than 11 points, 46-35, with 2:57 left to play.
Alabama State closes its weekend set of home games Monday against Prairie View A&M. The ASU-PVAM contest tips off at 3:30 p.m. and will be televised live by ESPNU as part of a women's/men's doubleheader.
