Box Score Tabitha Bradshaw scored 16 points, and while Brittney Wright and Jasmine Peeples each added 10 as the Alabama State women's basketball team opened the 2014-15 season with a 75-66 win over Stillman at the Dunn-Oliver Acadome.

The Lady Hornets (1-0) never trailed in the game, scoring 11 of the first 12 points in the first 6 ½ minutes of the contest. Alabama State maintained a minimum two-possession lead, and took its largest lead of the half with 14 seconds to play on two free throws by Kayla Tucker to give ASU a 38-27 halftime lead.

The teams traded baskets during the first 10 minutes of the second half before the Lady Hornets went on a decisive run. A 14-1 run over a five-minute stretch broke the game open. A three-pointer by Ashunte Smith sparked nine straight points by Alabama State. A pair of free throws and a jumper by Peeples, followed by a layup by Wright pushed the lead to 15 at 66-51 with 6:20 remaining.

After Stillman made one of two free throws, three free throws by Danielle Gazaway and a layup by Shamyiah Smith gave Alabama State its largest lead of the game at 71-52 with 4:38 remaining.
Alabama State forced 20 turnovers, outrebound the Tigers 54-38, and held Stillman to 35 percent shooting on the night, including 4-for-24 from three-point range.

"We did a decent job defensively, but our goal this year is to keep teams under 50 points," Alabama State head women's basketball coach Freda Freeman-Jackson said. "However, we committed 28 turnovers. That's not quality basketball. We have to clean it up in that area."

Despite the high total of turnovers, Alabama State scored 38 first-half points and 37 after the intermission, shooting just under 42 percent from the field, making four of 10 three-pointers.

"Our goal is to score between 75-80 points," Freeman-Jackson said. "We got that part down, but forgot about the other part in keeping teams less than 50 points, so we won't struggle as much. We have to do a better job defending the ball. I see we can score the ball, as we are making an effort to push the ball up the floor."

Freeman-Jackson was pleased with what she saw from a pair of her young players in particular.

"Kayla Stephens came in when Brittney Wright got in foul trouble and played quality minutes. I was glad to see Miracle Mayo give us solid minutes when Jasmine Peeples got into foul trouble. Shamyiah Smith at point guard did an excellent job as a freshman, running the team she did a lot of great things. It's just a matter of her continuing to get better."

The Lady Hornets return to action Tuesday at Florida A&M at 6 p.m.