Buzzer-beater lifts Southern to 63-61 win over Lady Tigers

BATON ROUGE, La. – The Lady Tigers of Texas Southern University were denied their first win in Southwestern Athletic Conference play when officials assessed a technical foul during a moment of excitement late in a 63-61 loss at Southern.
 
Bre'Nae Andrews knocked down a go-ahead basket with three seconds remaining to give TSU a 61-60 lead. The ensuing celebration from the TSU bench led to a technical foul, which allowed Southern to tie the game. The Jaguars then won the game on Courtney Parson's jumper in the paint as time expired.
 
Niya Mitchell and Olivia Cunningham scored 11 points apiece for the Lady Tigers (4-9, 0-2 SWAC). Cunningham came off the bench and shot 5-of-7 from the field, while Mitchell pulled in eight rebounds.
 
Richelle Velez scored 10 points for TSU, followed by Alaysia Ready's nine points. Andrews and Isis Lane scored eight points apiece for the Lady Tigers; Lane also blocked three shots.
 
Parson and Brittany Rose each scored 13 points off the Southern bench. The Jaguars (4-9) improved to 1-1 in SWAC play.
 
The Lady Tigers trailed by as many as six points with less than two minutes to play, but a 7-0 run, capped by Andrews' jumper, put the team right back in the contest. Andrews also knocked down a jumper with 1:07 remaining, and after a missed Southern shot, Cunningham pulled the team to within one at 60-59 when she hit a 3-pointer with 38 seconds left on the clock.
 
TSU then forced a turnover, which gave the Lady Tigers a chance to take the lead, which they did on Andrews' final basket.
 
The Lady Tigers shot 49 percent (25 of 51) from the floor during the game, but only managed to shoot 44 percent (7 of 16) from the free throw line.
 
The visiting Lady Tigers also turned the basketball over 23 times during the game, while Southern committed 21 turnovers.
 
Texas Southern will aim to snap its losing streak Saturday when the Lady Tigers visit in-state rival Prairie View A&M. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m.