Hill is currently one steal away from becoming the SWAC and Grambling State career steals leader. Raven LeDay/The Gramblinite
The Grambling State University women’s basketball team traveled to Jackson State on Feb. 23 suffering a key loss in SWAC conference.
With the 89-60 win Jackson State (12-13, 8-5) has now swept the Tigers this season.
Grambling (12-14,9-5) had momentum coming into the game off back-to-back wins, but that evaporated quickly when they ended the first quarter down by four pints.
Things began to spark in the second quarter as Grambling narrowed the lead to three points, but JSU overpowered the Tigers and took a 17 point lead at the half with the score 49-32.
“We lacked energy and effort,” Shakyla Hill said of the team’s first half play.
In the second half JSU kept the lead, increasing it to 56-35 wwith 8:15 left in the third quarter.
Leading the whole game, Jackson State ended the fourth quarter with a 89-60 victory over GSU.
Shooting percentage was not in favor of the Tigers. Grambling shot 20 for 60 (33.3%) in field goals and 15 for 25 (60%) from the free throw line.
The energy level played a big part in this game as well.
“We lacked energy and effort,” Hill said. “It was just a dead game we didn’t look or play like ourselves and nothing was changed that’s why we ended up losing.”
Hill said improvements need to be made prior to the team’s next game.
“Our overall energy…we are a great basketball team with immense talent but if we collectively don’t give a championship effort, we won’t be as successful as we should be,” Hill said.
Despite the loss, Hill had a total of 13 points with six rebounds, seven assists, one block and four steals, leaving her tied for the SWAC and GSU record for steals. Hill has also scored in double digits in 25 out of 26 games this season.
Sharpshooter Jazmin Boyd finished the game strong contributing 15 points, three rebounds and one steal.
With the victory Jackson State moves to fifth place in the SWAC and Grambling State sits at third place.
Grambling State will take on UAPB next on March 2.