Sports

Grambling men’s and women’s basketball win season openers

Senior guard Jazmin Boyd has surpassed the 1,000-point mark in her college career.

Boyd’s 1,000th point came in the Lady Tigers contest against University of Southern Mississippi on the road. The Lady Tigers lost to USM 68-47 before heading home for their 2018-19 home pener.  

 The women’s home opener was successful as GSU opened with a 75-51 victory against McNeese State on Friday evening in the Frederick C. Hobdy Assembly Center.

Shakyla Hill, who was named the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Preseason Player of the Year and SWAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, led the Lady Tigers with 19 points, five rebounds, eight assists and eight steals.

Madison Connally-Banks scored 12 points, grabbed two rebounds and snagged two steals. Candice Parramore chipped in with 10 points and two rebounds.

Callie Maddox paced McNeese (0-1) with 17 points, three rebounds, and one block, while Divine Tanks tallied 13 points 19 rebounds and two steals.

Grambling State (1-1) took advantage of McNeese’s lowly 20 percent shooting average in the first quarter and 26 percent in the second quarter.

 The Cowgirls could not recover from the first half deficit as the Lady Tigers led in double figures the remainder of the game.

GSU led at the half 38-18. The Cowgirls outscored the Lady Tigers 21-16 in the third quarter but still trailed 44-39 at the end of the period.

The closest McNeese would get was a 13-point deficit (50-37) with 1:16 remaining in the third quarter.

Turning Point

The Lady Tigers benefitted from a 15-14 run capped by a Markisha Body lay-up with 1:20 remaining to take their largest lead of the night and the 75-51 victory.

Inside The Numbers

* Grambling State shot 32-of-60 (53.3 percent) from the field and 9-of-26 (34.6 percent) from the free-throw line.

* McNeese State was 18-of-61 (29.5 percent) shooting and 10-of-26 (38.5 percent) from the free throw line.

* Grambling State scored 50 points in the paint, 27 points off turnovers and seven second-chance points.

* The Cowgirls finished with 22 points in the paint, 12 off turnovers and 10 second-chance points.

* The Lady Tigers held a 29-25 advantage in bench points.

* There were no ties in the game and the Lady Tigers maintained the lead the entire duration of the game.

 

MEN’S BB

Grambling State (1-0) outscored Jarvis Christian 105-68, on Friday night for their home opener at Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center.

GSU came out scorching in the first half, shooting 51 percent from the floor.

 Grambling closed out the half on an 8-2 run to take a 45-22 advantage into the break.

The Tigers kept the momentum from the first half, shooting 58 percent from the field in the second half.

Dallas Polk-Hillard led the Tigers with a double-double, recording a game-high 17 points and 10 rebounds.

Preseason Player of the Year Ivy Smith chipped in 11 points dishing out five assists.

Turning Point

GSU raced out to a 7-1 advantage after a dunk by SWAC Second-teamer Devante Jackson. The dunk started a 9-2 run over the next four minutes to allow GSU to take a 16-3 lead.

Inside the Numbers

*Grambling was 42-of-72 with a 58 percent shooting percentage.

*The Tigers registered 57 rebounds, while 41 of them were from the defensive side of the ball.

*GSU had five players register double digits in the scoring column.

*Jarvis Christian shot 31 percent from the field on the night.

* Christian also registered 29 bench points, with 16 points coming off turnovers.

*The Bulldogs grabbed 40 rebounds, with 18 of them coming on the offensive side of the ball.