GRAMBLING, La. | The Grambling State University women's basketball team concluded a five-game road swing to end 2017 and the Lady Tigers begin the new year with a pair of Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) games against Alabama A&M and Alabama State.
 
Grambling State (3-8 overall, 0-0 SWAC) opens SWAC play on Monday with a noon tip-off against Alabama A&M. The Lady Tigers end the short two-game homestand on Wednesday, with a 5:30 p.m. tip-off against Alabama State.
 
Alabama A&M comes into Monday's contest 5-6 overall and 0-0 in SWAC play. Alabama State will visit Jackson State on Monday before making the trip to Grambling, La., on Wednesday. The Lady Hornets are 2-9 this season and 0-0 in SWAC action.
 
ABOUT ALABAMA A&M
• The Lady Bulldogs enter the game just under .500 after falling to Lipscomb, 66-50, on Friday night.
 
• Alabama A&M is averaging 56.7 points per game, while its opponents are averaging 64.6 points. The Lady Bulldogs are shooting 35.7 percent (247-of-691) from the floor and 57.7 percent (90-of-156) from the free-throw line.
 
• Nigeria Jones paced the Alabama A&M offensive at 8.8 points and 3.1 assists per game. Ashlyn Dotson is second on the team in scoring at 8.4 points.
 
ABOUT ALABAMA STATE
• The Lady Hornets are coming off a 61-50 victory over Mobile on Dec. 21 as Keimeshia Walker and Kenya Pye each added 13 points.
 
• Alabama State is averaging 48.5 points per game, while its opponents are averaging 73.9 points. The Lady Hornets are shooting 29.8 percent (179-of-600) from the floor and 62.8 percent (137-of-218) from the charity stripe.
 
• Keimeshia Walker leads the Alabama State offense at 12.7 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game.
 
LAST TIME OUT
• Grambling State is coming off a 79-62 loss on Thursday night to Arkansas.
 
• The Lady Tigers trailed, 9-8, late in the first quarter, but were outscored, 6-3, as the Razorbacks took a 15-11 lead into the second. Arkansas used a 14-2 run over the first five minutes of the second quarter and didn't look back.
• Grambling State 37.9 percent (25-of-66) from the floor, but were 5-of-9 (55.6 percent) from the free-throw line.
 
NOTABLES
• Freshman Ariel Williams scored a career-high 16 points, on 6-of-12 shooting, in the loss to Arkansas.
 
• Lady Tigers junior Shakyla Hill was held to 1-of-5 shooting to finish with her lowest output of the season, two points, in 33 minutes of action. Hill is second on the team in scoring, averaging 12.3 points. She ranks fourth nationally (first in the SWAC) in steals and third nationally (first in the SWAC) in steals per game.
 
• Deja McKinney leads the Lady Tigers offensive at 12.4 points in all 11 games played this season.
  
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
• Shakyla Hill surpassed the 1,000-point plateau on Dec. 10 in a 73-49 loss at Alabama. Hill will be recognized with a pregame ceremony on Saturday, Jan. 13 against Prairie View A&M.
  
PRESEASON POLL
• The Lady Tigers were picked to finish second in the preseason coaches' poll as voted on by conference head coaches and sports information directors. Grambling State junior guard Shakyla Hill was selected the SWAC Preseason Player of the Year.
 
SCHEDULE NOTES
• Grambling State played just three games at home prior to opening conference play, registering a 2-1 mark, with its only loss coming to No. 17 Florida State. The Lady Tigers will play nine SWAC games at the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center.
  
GRAMBLING STATE BASKETBALL HISTORY
• Grambling State became the only SWAC school to advance in a postseason tournament as the Lady Tigers defeated Ole Miss, 78-75, in the first round of the WNIT last season.
 
• The Lady Tigers reached the SWAC Championship game last season, but fell to Texas Southern, 70-66.
  
UP NEXT
• After the two-game SWAC homestand, Grambling State visits Southern (Jan. 6) and Alcorn State (Jan.8).
 
Follow Grambling State Athletics
For complete coverage of Grambling State athletics, please follow the Tigers on social media at @GSU_Tigers (Twitter), /gramblingstateathletics (Facebook), @gramblingathletics01 (Instagram) or visit the official home of Grambling State Athletics at gsutigers.com.
 

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