HOUSTON – The Lady Tigers of Texas Southern University extended their season Tuesday as they opened play at the 2017 Toyota Southwestern Athletic Conference Basketball Tournament with a 65-45 win over Prairie View A&M.
TSU sophomore guard Joyce Kennerson (Port Arthur, Texas/Memorial) scored a game-high 29 points and teammate Breasia McElrath chipped in 16 points and eight rebounds to lead the Lady Tigers (21-9) into the SWAC semifinals.
La'Sha Haynes scored 11 points to lead the Lady Panthers, who finished their season with a record of 13-18.
At TSU's H&PE Arena, the Lady Tigers scored 24 unanswered points over a span of 10 minutes and 30 seconds during the first and second quarters to turn a 12-4 deficit into a 28-12 lead. Texas Southern would not trail for the remainder of the contest.
The normally hot-shooting Lady Panthers were held under 30 percent from the field (16 of 58, 27.6 percent) for only the third time this season. The Lady Tigers were only the second team from the SWAC to accomplish the feat.
Meanwhile, the Lady Tigers shot 64 percent (21 of 33) from the floor after the first quarter as they outscored their in-state rivals by 10 points in both the second and third periods.
The win marked TSU's first-ever victory over Prairie View A&M in a postseason game since the NCAA began sponsoring women's basketball in 1981. The Lady Panthers won the only other postseason matchups in 2013 and 2014.
With the win, the Lady Tigers will face Alabama State in the tournament semifinals Friday at the Toyota Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Courtesy: TSU Athletics
TSU sophomore guard Joyce Kennerson (Port Arthur, Texas/Memorial) scored a game-high 29 points and teammate Breasia McElrath chipped in 16 points and eight rebounds to lead the Lady Tigers (21-9) into the SWAC semifinals.
La'Sha Haynes scored 11 points to lead the Lady Panthers, who finished their season with a record of 13-18.
At TSU's H&PE Arena, the Lady Tigers scored 24 unanswered points over a span of 10 minutes and 30 seconds during the first and second quarters to turn a 12-4 deficit into a 28-12 lead. Texas Southern would not trail for the remainder of the contest.
The normally hot-shooting Lady Panthers were held under 30 percent from the field (16 of 58, 27.6 percent) for only the third time this season. The Lady Tigers were only the second team from the SWAC to accomplish the feat.
Meanwhile, the Lady Tigers shot 64 percent (21 of 33) from the floor after the first quarter as they outscored their in-state rivals by 10 points in both the second and third periods.
The win marked TSU's first-ever victory over Prairie View A&M in a postseason game since the NCAA began sponsoring women's basketball in 1981. The Lady Panthers won the only other postseason matchups in 2013 and 2014.
With the win, the Lady Tigers will face Alabama State in the tournament semifinals Friday at the Toyota Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Courtesy: TSU Athletics