Women's Basketball Falls In Regular Season Finale

TSU dropped a 61-56 tough women's basketball decision to Prairie View A&M on Saturday evening at home.
 
The first quarter was back-and-forth as both teams took the lead on four occasions. Prairie View A&M was up 18-14 with 1:34 left but Alisa Knight nailed a trey to draw within one. TSU would force three turnovers over the final 1:20 as Ataiya Bridges closed out the quarter with a jumper to move TSU ahead 19-18.
 
PVAMU would lead by as much as four (24-20) with 6:08 left in the second quarter but TSU swung the contest and went ahead 29-26 after a 9-2 surge to lead 29-26 at the 4:12 mark. PVAMU regained the lead on the ensuing possession but once again TSU had a strong close to the half as Bridges scored the final four points to push TSU to a 33-30 halftime lead.
 
A three-pointer from Knight would give TSU a 38-32 lead early in the third quarter but PVAMU battled back and went on an 8-2 run to knot the game at 40-all. However, TSU would go cold as they missed seven consecutive shots over the next few minutes but PVAMU was equally as cold with five missed shots.
 
Andriana Avent would move TSU up 42-40 with 1:07 left but PVAMU Diana Rosenthal scored five straight to move them up 45-42. Two more free throws by Jessica Soders upped the lead to 47-42 at the end of the third quarter.
 
Jada Perry and Bridges scored to tie it up at 47-all with 8:24 left but PVAMU pushed its lead to 51-47 until a Knight basket brought TSU to within 51-49 at the 6:17 mark. Perry would knot the game at 51-all with a layup as both teams went neck-and-neck as PVAMU scored followed by Avent's layup for a 53-all tie with 3:19 left.
 
Two turnovers and two missed three-pointers by TSU over the next two minutes hurt as PVAMU's Jessica Soders scored to move on top 55-53. Avent nailed a three-pointer for a 56-55 lead but rebounding hurt TSU as PVAMU tipped in a basket to move on top 57-56 at the 1:13 mark. PVAMU was only 4-for-8 from the free throw line down the stretch but TSU couldn't capitalize as they missed its final four shots which allowed PVAMU to seal the game.
 
Bridges finished with 20 points followed by 14 from Avent and 11 from Knight. Perry had nine boards followed by eight from Bridges and Knight.
 
TSU is back in action in Birmingham, Ala. as they'll face Southern at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 10 in the first round of SWAC Tournament play.