NASHVILLE, Tenn. – After trailing by as many as 10 points, Stetson Women's basketball scored five points in the last 20 seconds overcome Tennessee State, 67-65, Sunday afternoon at the Gentry Center Complex.
SU (5-5) picks up its first road win of the season, while TSU (4-5) was handed its first home loss.
The Lady Tigers were all over Stetson early, jumping out to an 11-2 advantage four minutes seven seconds into the game. The home team was hot from behind the arc as nine of the 11 was from three-point range. Stetson chipped the deficit down to four, 18-14, but a three to end the period gave TSU a seven-point lead, 21-14, after one.
Although the advantage ballooning to nine twice, the Hatters offense kicked into gear in the second frame, and an 8-0 cut the game to a single point, 29-28 TSU with 2:19 left in the half, prompting a timeout from the Lady Tigers. Stetson went inside for all eight points with four made layups; the first by
Mali Morgan-Elliott followed by
Jaelyn Talley then a pair by
Skylar Treadwell. Tennessee State's Saniah Parker made the only shot for the remained of the period, a jumper to make the halftime score 31-28 in favor of the home team.
The third quarter has been a nemesis for Stetson in the young season and with 5:54 left in the frame, SU found themselves in a 10-point hole. The Hats battled back, with
Jordan Peete at the foul line three minutes and 45 seconds later, the junior guard tied the game at 44. TSU would score on two possessions ending the third quarter with a four-point cushion, 48-44.
The Lady Tigers appeared to be keeping the Hatters at bay maintaining a tenuous single-digit lead through the fourth, flowing between one and two possessions, until Peete knocked down a three and Turner made a layup on back-to-back possessions giving The Hats their first lead, 56-55, with 4:16 left. The home side immediately regained the advantage on the following possession but were unable to pull away. Peete knocked down a pair of free throws with 20 seconds left to cut the lead to one point, 65-64, before the game went into a frenzy.
With the shot clock off and needing a possession, the Hatters were pressing. After the inbound pass, Turner jarred the ball loose directly to McNeal who was fouled as she was driving toward an unguarded basket. McNeal missed both free throws with the ball going out of bounds following the second shot and was deemed to have been touched last by Tennessee State. Stetson's offense rotated in the closing seconds with defense collapsing on a double-team on McNeal at the elbow, Turner was left open for a three on the opposing side of the slot as time was running out, and the sophomore's attempt connected. With 0.5 on the clock after Turner's make, Tennessee State's Erica Haynes-Overton made a baseline jumper on the other end of the floor that would have tied the game but after a review the referees determined that the ball was still in the shooter's hand as time expired voiding the attempt and ending the game with the Hatters in front, 67-65.
It'll be a busy schedule in DeLand, for the Hatters as UNC Greensboro comes to the Edmunds Center Thursday followed by the Hatter Classic games on Sunday and Monday. All three Stetson games will tip off at 11 a.m., with two neutral games, one each on Sunday and Monday, tipping off approximately 30 minutes following the completion of SU's contests.
About Stetson University Athletics: Stetson University's Athletics Program is driven by a shared purpose. It is what inspires, motivates and binds us together. More than a task, a reason for being. THE HATTER PURPOSE is to create and provide an experience of a lifetime through teamwork and relationships to achieve excellence. This purpose is achieved through five Core Values: Communication, Integrity, Excellence, Value People and Commitment. To learn more about the HATS program and our Core Values, visit GoHatters.com/HATS (PDF).
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