MORRISTOWN, TN – Jackson State came into Saturday's contest against Walters State averaging 79 points per game.
Taking on the Lady Senators, they didn't even come close to that number.
Walters State held Jackson State to 57 points, scoring 62 of their own as they took a big 62-57 victory.
With the win, Walters State improved to 10-6 on the season and 6-2 in TCCAA play.
Leading the charge for Walters State on the offensive end was Kyra Perkins, as she totaled 27 points. Perkins has been solid the past couple games despite fighting through a lingering knee injury.
"Kyra did a great job scoring the ball tonight," Walters State coach Jasmin Coleman said. "She gave us some really good minutes on the offensive end. I thought we guarded well, but we created problems for ourselves with some turnovers. We just have to take care of the ball better."
Along with Perkins, Briontanay Marshall had 12 points and some big rebounds late to help secure the win. Kristyna Boyd was also in double figures with 14 points.
Other scorers for Walters State were Asia Barr with six and Tianna Rhodes with three.
Walters State and Jackson State battled early on in the contest, tying at two, four, six and eight. Jackson State hit a 3-pointer at 8-8 to briefly take the lead, but the Lady Senators answered with a 3-pointer by Perkins. Jackson State took one final lead in the first quarter at 13-11, however, Rhodes hit two free throws and Boyd scored four to give Walters State a 17-15 lead after one.
In the second, the Lady Senators really started to assert their authority. Marshall led off the quarter with a basket and, after a Jackson State bucket, Perkins and Marshall scored again to make it 23-17. Jackson State scored one more time, but Boyd and Perkins were there to answer again with baskets.
From there, the two teams traded made shots until it was 28-24 with under a minute to go in the half. That's when Perkins hit yet another 3-pointer to make it 31-24. Unfortunately for the Lady Senators, Jackson scored five points in the final 30 seconds to make it 31-29 at the break.
The two teams continued to go to war in the third quarter, as Jackson State cut the Walters State lead to one at 35-34 with five minutes to go in the quarter. Needing a response, the Lady Senators got it with a Perkins bucket and Barr 3-pointer. Jackson State scored out of a timeout, but Perkins and Rhodes combined to hit three free throws that made it 43-36. Marshall and Barr scored the final four points of the quarter for Walters State, and the Lady Senators led 47-39 going to the final 10 minutes.
In the fourth, Jackson State scored the first five points of the quarter to make it a two-point game. Perkins briefly calmed the storm with a big three and, after a Jackson State basket made it 50-47, Marshall and Perkins scored again to get the lead back to seven.
However, Jackson State would not go away and made it 56-55 with two minutes to go. Needing a bucket, the Lady Senators got a desperation shot by Marshall at the shot clock buzzer that gave them a 58-55 lead. Jackson State scored again to get the lead back to one, but Boyd hit two free throws with 15 seconds left to make it 60-57.
Jackson State called time to set up a play, but Walters State forced a five-second call and got the ball back. The Lady Senators missed two ensuing free throws but forced another stop on the defensive end. Boyd got the ball and was fouled, draining two free throws to give them a 62-57 win.
Up Next:
Walters State will close out the tough stretch of games on Monday, traveling to Volunteer State. Tip is set for 5 p.m. ET.
Rob Harvey
Walters State Community College
Sports Information Director
Cell: (423) 779-8880
Email: sportsinfo@ws.edu
Website: www.ws.edu/athletics