By: Candice Dixson, Sports Information Graduate Assistant
GRAMBLING, La. | The Grambling State University women's basketball team will look to improve on its Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) record as they travel to Jackson, Miss. to take on Jackson State University. Tipoff at Lee E. Williams Athletic and Assembly Center on Saturday is set for 3 p.m.
Grambling State (7-10 overall, 4-2 SWAC) ended a two-game homestead, defeating Prairie View A&M, 81-79, in overtime, but dropped a 73-63 decision to Texas Southern.
Jackson State (9-6, 4-2) has dropped two out of its last three games, including losses to Southern and Texas Southern.
ABOUT JACKSON STATE
• Jackson State fell to Texas Southern, 77-64, but bounced back with a 70-61 win over Prairie View A&M on Monday night and remain one game in the lead spot in the conference.
• Jackson State is averaging 73.3 points per game, while its opponents are averaging 64.8 points. JSU is shooting 39.0 percent (425-of-1091) from the floor and 62.6 percent (206-of-329) from the charity stripe.
• Derica Wiggins leads JSU in double figures at 14.3 points and 4.2 rebounds per game, while Christina Ellis is averaging 13.1 points and 3.4 rebounds.
LAST TIME OUT
• Grambling State is coming off a 73-63 loss to Texas Southern on Monday.
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Jazmin Boyd finished with 13 points, one rebound, one assist, and one steal.
Shakyla Hill added 12 points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals.
Justice Coleman registered 10 points.
• Grambling State shot 42.9 percent (24-of-56) from the floor and 56.3 percent (9-of-16) from the free-throw line.
NOTABLES
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Shakyla Hill is first on the team in scoring, (averaging 13.8 points) field goal attempts, field goals made, free throw attempts, free throws made, rebounds (offensive and defensive), rebound average, assists and steals. She ranks first in the SWAC in assists, second nationally (first in the SWAC) in steals, third nationally in triple-doubles and second nationally (first in the SWAC) in steals per game.
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Monisha Neal is now 24 points shy of reaching 1,000 for her collegiate career.
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
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Shakyla Hill surpassed the 1,000-point plateau on Dec. 10 in a 73-49 loss at Alabama.
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Shakyla Hill became the fourth NCAA Division I women's basketball player in history to register a quadruple-double as she finished with 15 points, 10 rebounds, 10 steals and 10 assists against Alabama State (Jan. 3).
PRESEASON POLL
• Grambling State was picked to finish second in the preseason coaches' poll as voted on by conference head coaches and sports information directors. GSU 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 on Jan. 1, registering a 2-1 mark, with its only loss coming to No. 17 Florida State. GSU 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 GSU defeated Ole Miss, 78-75, in the first round of the WNIT last season.
• Grambling State reached the SWAC Championship game last season, but fell to Texas Southern, 70-66.
UP NEXT
• Following the Jackson State contest, Grambling State will continue on its three-game road swing, with a trip to Pine Bluff, Ark., to take on Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Jan. 27.
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.
