SUN BELT WOMEN
ARKANSAS STATE 68, TENNESSEE STATE 62
Arkansas State University (3-3) had four players score 10 or more points in its victory over Tennessee State (0-5) at First National Bank Arena in Jonesboro. Jada Ford and Lauren Bradshaw each scored 13 points to lead the Red Wolves, while Bradshaw pulled down a team-high seven rebounds. Morgan Wallace added 11 points off the bench, while Akaska Westbrook chipped in 10 more for ASU which led 32-28 at halftime and outscored Tennessee State 44-24 in points in the lane.
Tennessee State’s Tia Wooten led all scorers with 23 points and had a game-high 8 rebounds. Kaliya Griffin added 11 points for the Tigers who shot just 38.5 percent (5 of 13) at the free throw line, while the Red Wolves were 15 of 27 (55.6 percent).
SOUTHLAND WOMEN
NO. 12 TENNESSEE 77, CENTRAL ARKANSAS 34
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Two nights earlier, the University of Central Arkansas won a 106-23 blowout of NAIA program Crowley’s Ridge, but it struggled against much tougher opposition Thursday. After the Sugar Bears grabbed a 6-5 lead midway through the first quarter, Tennessee scored the next 15 points and never looked back.
Mercedes Russell had 19 points and 10 rebounds Thursday night as No. 12 Tennessee (7-0) trounced Central Arkansas 77-34 to remain undefeated.
Tennessee held Central Arkansas (3-2) scoreless for the game’s final 11 minutes, 4 seconds, and capitalized on its depth to outscore the Sugar Bears 17-0 in the fourth quarter even after emptying its bench.
Central Arkansas scored just two points in the last 15:36 of the game. Taylor Baudoin had 11 points and seven rebounds for Central Arkansas.
The Sugar Bears entered the night shooting 50.4 percent from the floor this season to rank seventh among all Division I teams, but they struggled to get open looks against Tennessee’s superior size and athleticism. Central Arkansas shot just 23.7 percent (14 of 59) from the field and went 5 of 30 in the second half and 0 for 15 in the fourth quarter.