NEW ORLEANS, La. | The Grambling State University women's basketball team found its way back into the win column, beating the University of New Orleans 61-49 at Kiefer Lakefront Arena on Wednesday afternoon.
 
Alexus Holt, the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Impact Player of the Week, scored 21 points to go along with eight rebounds and two steals. Justice Coleman registered nine points with five rebounds, three assists and one block.
 
The victory served as GSU's third victory over an opponent from the state of Louisiana, and the second win over a Southland Conference (SLC) foe this season.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• New Orleans (1-6) seized early control of the contest, jumping out to a 14-6 lead at the 2:41 mark of the opening period.
• After the sluggish start, GSU (3-8) kicked into high-gear on both ends of the court. The Lady Tigers held the Privateers scoreless for 10:11, embarking on a 19-0 run spanning the final 2:41 of the first quarter and much of the second frame. Holt capped the run with three-pointer with 4:19 left in the half, giving GSU a 25-14 lead.
• Grambling State outscored New Orleans 20-4 in the second quarter, carrying a 30-17 lead into the break.
• The Lady Tigers maintained distance on the scoreboard in the third stanza, leading 47-34 heading into the final quarter.
• Just when it seemed GSU had total control of the contest, UNO fought its way back into the game on the strength of a 9-1 run to open the fourth period, pulling within five, 48-43 with 5:57 to play.
• Holding onto a 50-45 lead with 4:17 left, Grambling State put New Orleans away for good, finishing the game on an 11-4 run.

  INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Grambling State shot 23-of-65 from the field (35.4 percent)
• New Orleans went 16-of-65 on field goal attempts (24.6 percent)
• GSU connected on 3-of-16 shots from three-point range (18.8 percent)
• UNO drained 4-of-25 from behind the arc (16.0 percent)
• The Lady Tigers hit on 75.0 percent of their free throws (12-of-16)
• The Privateers sank 13-of-21 attempts from the free-throw line (61.9 percent)
• GSU outrebounded UNO 49-45
• The Lady Tigers scored 17 points off of 21 turnovers
• The Privateers tallied 10 points on 19 turnovers
• Grambling State outscored New Orleans 24-16 in fast-break points
• GSU's bench outscored UNO's bench 15-8
• The Lady Tigers scored 16 second-chance points. New Orleans tallied six second-chance points  
• GSU held a 34-14 advantage on points in the Paint

 UP NEXT
Grambling State returns home to begin SWAC play versus Prairie View A&M on Jan. 3. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. at the Frederick C. Hobdy Assembly Center.
 
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