TULLAHOMA, TN – On March 2nd, Walters State ended the regular season with a 13-point loss to Jackson State.
Nine days later, the Lady Senators and Green Jays faced off again in postseason play. And this time, Walters State would not be denied.
The Lady Senators broke out to a 17-3 lead in the TCCAA/Region VII Semifinals and never looked back on Monday evening, defeating Jackson State 75-48 and moving on to the TCCAA/Region VII Championship game.
With the win, Walters State improved to 19-8 on the season. It is their fourth straight trip to the TCCAA/Region VII Championship game.
Asia Barr hit six 3-pointers and led the way for Walters State with 21 points and four rebounds, while Kristyna Boyd had 20 points and 10 rebounds. It's Boyd's sixth double-double of the season.
However, while those two led the way, the entire team contributed for Walters State. Those contributors were Tianna Rhodes with 10 points, three rebounds, two assists and three steals, Janae Charles with nine points and nine rebounds, Kyra Perkins with six points and four steals, Juilenne Ongbagnamen with five points and three rebounds, Briontanay Marshall with three points, two rebounds and two assists and Lia Wright with one point and two rebounds.
As a team, Walters State shot 44.1% from the field. The Lady Senators collected 43 rebounds and had 10 assists.
Defensively, the Lady Senators held Jackson State to 38% from the field and 2-13 from the 3-point line. Walters State forced 15 turnovers and Jackson State had just 34 rebounds.
It was all Walters State from the opening whistle, as Barr drilled a 3-pointer just 19 seconds in. Marshall and Boyd traded baskets right after, and the Lady Senators were up 7-0 and forced a Jackson timeout.
Jackson got on the board with a free throw and a layup, but Boyd scored three points. Rhodes then split a pair of free throws and the Lady Senators got the rebound on the miss, leading to a Barr drilled three to up the lead to 14-3 and force another timeout.
The lead grew following the timeout on a Charles free throw and Wright layup that made it 17-3. Free throws made it 19-5, and Barr made it 22-5 on a three with 50 seconds to go in the opening quarter. Jackson scored the final three points of the quarter, but it was 22-8 after one.
In the second, Jackson cut the lead to 23-11 a couple minutes in. However, Walters State were there to hit right back. Rhodes scored first and Boyd made a shot quickly after. The Lady Senators forced a turnover on the next possession, and it was 27-11 as Jackson used their third timeout of the half with 7:22 to go.
The timeout could not stop Walters State though, as Barr hit another three to make it 30-11. Traded baskets made it 33-16, but Boyd converted a shot to get the lead to 19 with 3:51 left in the half. Following a free throw from Ongbagnamen that got the lead to 20, Barr forced another turnover and made the layup to make it 38-16.
From there, Walters State kept the pressure on and a Perkins jumper in the lane at the buzzer gave the Lady Senators a 48-18 lead at the break.
In the third quarter, Walters State scored 11 points but still led 59-35 going to the fourth. In the fourth, Walters State outscored Jackson State 16-13 and went on for the 27-point victory.
Up Next:
Walters State will be back in action on Tuesday for the TCCAA/Region VII Championship. The Lady Tigers won the two regular season matchups.
Tip is set for 4 p.m. CT.
Rob Harvey
Walters State Community College
Sports Information Director
Cell: (423) 779-8880
Email: sportsinfo@ws.edu
Website: www.ws.edu/athletics