Kennerson scores 24 points as Lady Tigers defeat Valley

HOUSTON – Texas Southern University's Lady Tigers scored the first 14 points of the game Monday and then held back a spirited comeback effort from Mississippi Valley State in a 60-54 win over the Devilettes.
 
Joyce Kennerson scored 24 points on 8-of-13 shooting and Breasia McElrath scored nine points and pulled in 10 rebounds to lead Texas Southern (16-9), which improved to 10-4 in Southwestern Athletic Conference play.
 
Ashley Beals led the Devilettes (9-17, 6-9) with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Kenya Hailey chipped in 15 points and eight rebounds for Valley.
 
Valley chipped away at TSU's double-digit lead early in the second period by outscoring the Lady Tigers 9-2 between the 9:31 and 4:00 marks to cut TSU's lead to 24-21. TSU led 30-27 at halftime.
 
The visitors briefly reclaimed the lead in a third quarter that featured four ties and four lead changes. TSU reclaimed control with a 6-0 run that was capped with a Kennerson layup to stretch the Lady Tiger lead to 44-38 with 1:55 left in the period.
 
The Devilettes stayed within striking distance in the fourth, but couldn't get the go-ahead or tying basket. They came close when an errant in-bounds pass was nearly stolen by Kenya Hailey with 13 seconds left, but Hailey was called for a foul on Kennerson as TSU maintained a 56-54 lead. Kennerson and Palmer would later seal the game at the free throw line.
 
TSU's freshman center Kelena Morris scored her first collegiate baskets Monday as she finished with five points on 2-of-3 shooting from the floor.
 
Senior post Shamiya Brooks made her second start of the season and scored seven points and pulled in seven rebounds for the Lady Tigers; Brooks was also 3-of-3 from the free throw line after entering Monday shooting less than 30 percent from the stripe.
 
The Lady Tigers return to action Saturday when they face Alabama State. The Hornets lost at Southern on Monday, bringing TSU and ASU into a second-place tie in the SWAC standings. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m.
 
KEY POINTS:
• Texas Southern improved to 8-0 in games in which the margin is between (and including) six and 10 points.
• The Lady Tigers (21 of 44) outshot Valley 48 percent to 34 percent (22 of 64); TSU is 13-1 this season when tallying a higher field-goal percentage than its opponent.
• In holding the Devilettes to 34 percent from the floor, TSU improved to 13-2 in games in which they hold their opponent's field-goal percentage under 40 percent.
• Kennerson surpassed the 700-point mark, and has now scored 705 points in 54 career games for the Lady Tigers.
• Kennerson is shooting 50 percent from the field (58 of 116) and 39 percent from 3-point range (17 of 44) in TSU's 10 games in the greater Houston area (including road games at HBU and Prairie View).
• TSU also gained a game on Arkansas–Pine Bluff, which lost at Prairie View on Monday. Southern is in fourth place in the SWAC at 10-5, with UAPB in fifth at 9-6. The top four teams host the SWAC Tournament's first round games.