Box Score Nakiya Smith's 23 points wasn't enough to hold off the Jackson State Tigers women's basketball team in a 70-67 win over the Lady Hornets at the Lee E. Williams Assembly and Activity Center Thursday night.
 
The Lady Hornets fell to a 9-19 overall record, 7-10 in the SWAC, while the Lady Tigers improved to 11-15 overall, 8-9 in the SWAC with the victory.
 
Smith led all scorers in the game with a .500 percent field goal shooting (10-20), while converting a perfect 2-2 from the free throw line.  She had two rebounds to add to her numbers.  She was not the only Lady Hornet in double figures.  Kierra Paige scored 10 points and teammate Danielle Gazaway had 15 on the night.  Quentori Alford led both teams in rebounding pulling down 14 boards.
 
The Lady Tigers out-shot Alabama State from the field 42.6 percent to 31.4 percent.  Alabama State made just 22-70 from the field, including 19-25 from the foul line, while Jackson State made 18-27 from the free stripe line.  Jackson State forced 17 turnovers and committed five more then the Lady Hornets (22).  Alabama State scored 19 of its points off turnovers and only 13 from second chance baskets, 44 of their points came from the bench.
 
Beatrice Banks scored a team high 19 points for Jackson State shooting 6-9 from the field and 5-8 from around the arch.  Ayanna Hardy-Fuller added 11 points in the JSU win.  Alabama State held leading scorer Tiffany Kellum to only eight points and nine rebounds.
 
Alabama State had at least a five point lead in the first half (23-18) allowing the Lady Tigers to take a 35-26 lead at the intermission.  The Lady Hornets went 10-32 from the field.  Jackson State went 5-5 from around arch shooting a perfect 100 percent. 

 “We knew that is was going to be tough game on the road for us,” said Head Coach Freda Freeman-Jackson.  “We had situations that we just missed a lot of opportunities not getting “Q” the basketball and missing easy lay-ups that we should have made.  She has to do a better job and score around the basket.  Overall our time management down the stretch we were able to make a run, but it wasn't enough to get the win.”

Alabama State will return to the hardwood Saturday at 3:00 p.m. in Grambling, La. as they face the Grambling State Tigers.