MONTGOMERY –
Britney Wright's 24 points and 10 rebounds navigated the Alabama State women's basketball team to a 57-51 victory over Texas Southern, ending their 10-game win streak, Saturday evening in the Dunn-Oliver Acadome.
Alabama State (8-9, 6-2 SWAC) increased their winning streak to six after a successful showdown with the SWAC's top team.
Texas Southern (11-7, 7-1 SWAC) suffered its first SWAC loss of the season.
"We hustled and our players outlasted them," said ASU head coach
Freda Freeman-Jackson, "It was a team effort for us."
Ashanti Spencer produced 14 points and eight rebounds off the bench while defensive anchor
Jasmine Peeples efficiently added 10 points, grabbed eight rebounds and snared TSU's shots with five blocks.
Kianna Vines had 12 points and 10 rebounds however, limited to 6-of-15 (40%) shooting from the field and four turnovers.
"JP (
Jasmine Peeples) did a great job on Vines, she still scored points, but limited her while getting huge blocks," said Freeman-Jackson.
The swarming defense of the Lady Hornets held the Lady Tigers below their season average of 41% from the field, down to 36.2% and below their 60 points per game average.
The Lady Tigers' Toni Cheadle and Brianna Sidney both fouled out in the fourth quarter.
Cheadle scored 16 points while Sidney added 10 points.
In her valiant return from suffering an injury early in the game, Ewert picked up a charge on a driving Joyce Kennerson in a momentum shifting turnover on TSU.
Texas Southern pressed back to recapture the lead, going on a 11-0 run before a 3-pointer by Spencer to end the ASU offensive drought.
ASU had not scored a point in the first six minutes of the fourth quarter.
TSU matched ASU basket for basket during most of the third quarter, until deep corner 3-pointer by Wright assisted by Shields-Sampson, earning Alabama State a 44-37 lead at the end of the third quarter.
"We had to play every single possession on the defensive end," said Freeman-Jackson.
The Lady Hornets held a 29-25 lead at halftime. Wright led all scorers at the half with 13 points.
After an early seven-point lead by TSU, ASU rallied back going on a 11-0 run, credited to their tenacious defense and to a relentless attack to the basket.
The Lady Tigers were held scoreless in last four minutes of the second quarter.
With three minutes left in the second quarter, Breasia McElrath drove into the lane and collided with Ewert.
Ewert was charged with the foul and would return later in the game.
In the first quarter of play, TSU led ASU 15-13.
Both teams shot an identical 5-of-11 (45.5%) from the field.
Wright scored five points.
The TSU frontcourt of Vines and Cheadle scored four points each.
The Lady Hornets will swiftly return to action when they will host Prairie View A&M, Monday at 5:30 p.m. in the Dunn-Oliver Acadome.
"We have another tough game coming up. We want to enjoy this victory and get back to business when we practice tomorrow because it doesn't get any easier," said coach Freeman-Jackson.
