Box Score (PDF)

NASHVILLE, Tenn.  – A third quarter run provided the Lady Tigers the separation they needed as Tennessee State University defeated the Eastern Kentucky University women's basketball team, 78-64, Saturday at the Gentry Center.
 
TSU (10-15, 5-10 Ohio Valley Conference) held an eight point lead at the break. EKU senior Alexus Cooper knocked down a trey with 1:06 left in the first half to trim the TSU lead to six, but the Lady Tigers answered with a Tia Wooten bucket to extend the lead back to eight before intermission.
 
Senior Mariah Massengill hit from long range on EKU's opening possession of the second half, narrowing the lead to five. However, from there, the Lady Tigers put together a 14-4 run to build a 15 point advantage from which the Colonels could not recover.

TSU outscored Eastern Kentucky 22-11 in the third period and built a 19 point lead heading into the final stanza.
 
For the fourth straight game, four Colonels finished in double digit scoring. Jalen O'Bannon and Shavontae Naylor paced EKU with 14 each. O'Bannon added 13 rebounds in the loss, marking her fifth double-double of the season. Cooper netted 13, as Massengill finished with 11.  
 
The Colonels (9-18, 6-8 OVC) continue conference play Wednesday at Jacksonville State. Wednesday's game is scheduled for 8 p.m. from Pete Mathews Coliseum.