Sports

Lady Tigers continue slump

The Grambling State University women’s basketball team’s losing streak extended to five games on Saturday as they lost 64-51 to Jackson State University in the Fredrick C. Hobdy Arena. 

Ayanna Hardy-Fuller led the way for JSU (10-14, 8-6 SWAC) with 11 points, but the win was a collective effort as eight of the nine players who played scored.

The Lady Tigers (8-17, 5-9 SWAC), who was without Victoya Ricks, got off to a sluggish start in the first half as they trailed by 10 going into halftime. 

“Once they got that lead, we couldn’t cut it,” GSU’s assistant coach Lou Hamilton said. 

Grambling’s only lead was at the 15:35 mark in the first half when Joanna Miller put the Lady Tigers up 6-5 after a made lay up. After that it was all JSU

Jackson took full advantage of Grambling’s sluggish start in the first half as they  went on a 7-0 run to go up six at the 14:10 mark. Miller ended the run with a 3-pointer, then JSU closed the half outscoring the Lady Tigers 23-16, which gave them a 35-25 lead at half. GSU’s 25 points was a season low in conference play.

Grambling seemed flummoxed throughout the entire game by Jackson State’s defense, turning the ball over 28 times. Jackson capitalized by scoring 22 points off GSU’s giveaways. 

“We have to take care of the basketball and try to make something happen,” Hamilton said. “We want to get that down to at least 15 or so.”

Grambling would cut the lead to 42-35 with 12:44 left, but Jackson State was just too much. JSU responded with a 20-11 run that stretched their lead to 16 with 2:30 left and the game was essentially over. 

“They made their shots in the second half and every time we’d cut it, they would answer,” Hamilton said. “You can’t rally cut something if you’re not getting consecutive stops and that was the key tonight.”

Jasmine Godbolt led Grambling with 15 points. Miller couldn’t be as aggressive in the second half because of the four fouls she committed in the first half. She finished with 11.

Grambling’s next game is on March 1 against the University of Arkansas- Pine Bluff (3-20, 2-11 SWAC). Tip off is at 3.00 p.m. in the Fredrick C. Hobdy Arena.