Bridges Erupts For 34 As Women's Basketball Claims Big Win Over Grambling State

Ataiya Bridges scored 34 points while Jada Perry had a double-double as TSU held off Grambling State for a 96-86 win on Saturday afternoon inside the H&PE Arena.
 
Grambling State jumped out to a 10-2 lead three minutes in as they were nearly flawless from the field. However, the roles would reverse as the first quarter came to a close as Jada Perry and Andriana Avent combined to score 13 points over the final 5:44 as the Lady Tigers shot 8-of-11 from the field to trail 21-20.
 
Grambling State would open the second quarter with a layup but TSU answered as Ataiya Bridges nailed a three-pointer. With a big crowd on hand and into the game, the team began to feed off the crowd's energy and was hot from the three-point line with three made as they went on a 17-4 run over the next four minutes to lead 37-27. However, Grambling State wouldn't go away and TSU had a case of the turnover bug with three over the next three minutes they went on an 11-5 run to draw within 42-38.
 
Despite the temporary setback, TSU closed out the half on an 8-2 run as Ataiya Bridges scored five points while forcing a pair of turnovers as TSU went into the half ahead 50-40.
 
TSU started the second half strong as they outscored GSU 8-1 to claim an 18-point lead (59-41) after Ariana Taylor's three-pointer with 5:50 remaining. Once again, Grambling State would fight back as they went 6-of-8 and 3-for-3 on three-pointers during a 16-5 run to draw within 64-57. Andriana Avent would answer with a big three-pointer to move back ahead by 10 but Alexus Holt scored a layup for GSU to close within eight. Avent and Bridges combined for the final five points as TSU finished the third quarter ahead 72-61.
 
Four turnovers by TSU fueled Grambling State's latest run as they were perfect from the field midway through the final quarter as TSU's lead was reduced to 78-74 with 5:25 left. Jada Perry came up with a big basket to cut GSU's momentum and TSU continued to hold court over the next few minutes. Ahead 90-82 with 1:47 left, GSU had one late charge left in them as they outscored TSU 4-3 to close within 92-86 with 46 seconds left.
 
GSU would miss a layup with 41 seconds left and Bridges was fouled with 33 seconds left. Bridges went 4-of-4 from the line to close out the contest as TSU completed the season sweep.
 
Bridges led TSU with 34 points and seven assists followed by 23 from Avent and 21 from Perry. Shalexxus Aaron added 10 while Perry completed the double-double with 13 boards.
 
TSU is back in action Monday night against Southern at 5:30 p.m. inside the H&PE Arena.