GRAMBLING, La. | For the second game in a row, the Grambling State University women's basketball team used a big second half rally to erase a huge deficit. However, they still couldn't complete the comeback effort, falling to Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) foe Texas Southern, 73-66 at the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center on Wednesday night. 

GSU trailed by as many as 21 in the second half but roared back to claim a brief lead in the final period. 

Grambling State had three players score in double-figures. Alexus Holt led the way with a game-high16 points to go along with five steals, four assists and three rebounds, while Justice Coleman and Ariel Williams posted 13 points apiece. Coleman also led GSU in rebounds, snatching seven boards.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Grambling State (3-10 overall, 0-2 SWAC) began the game with a quick layup from Cierra Ellington, but quickly bogged down offensively, scoring just six points in the opening period. GSU connected on 25.0 percent of their field goal attempts (3-of-12), while Texas Southern (1-8, 1-1) shot a sizzling 63.64 percent (7-of-11) en route to a 16-6 lead heading into the second period.
• The second frame was a bit more even scoring wise, but GSU still struggled to shoot the ball effectively, connecting on just 4-of-15 attempts in the quarter. TSU carried a 29-17 lead into the half. 
• In the third period, Texas Southern built a 21 point lead, 42-21, with 4:14 left. That's when GSU finally found its rhythm. Grambling State embarked on a 19-3 run, thanks to stifling full-court defense and timely shooting, to close the quarter. GSU forced 14 turnovers during that time frame. 
• Ellington and DeAndre'a Alexander sparked to run with back-to-back layups at the 4:03 mark. 
• Coleman also found her stroke, knocking down back-to-back jumpers trimming TSU's lead to 14, 43-29, with 2:44 to go in the frame. Coleman closed the period, knocking down anther jump shot to pull the GSU within five, 45-40, to end the stanza.
• Grambling State continued to push the tempo to open up the fourth quarter. Holt opened with a pull-up jumper to cut the lead to three, 45-42
• Ariel Williams knotted the game at 45-45, splashing a deep three-pointer with 9:16 to go. GSU finally pushed ahead of TSU after Williams and Phylicia Allen both hit a pair free-throws each giving the Grambling State a 49-45 lead with 8:07 to go.
• Texas Southern regained the lead, 50-49, with 7:07 to play when Andriana Avent connected from behind the arc.
• GSU led one more time, 51-50, when Holt knocked a free-throw down with 6:58 left, but TSU immediately jump back in front and managed to stay ahead for the remainder of the contest.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Grambling State shot 24-of-63 from the field (38.1 percent)
• Texas Southern went 24-of-45 on field goal attempts (55.6 percent)
• GSU connected on 1-of-13 shots from three-point range (7.7 percent)
• TSU drained 6-of-15 from behind the arc (40.0 percent)
• Grambling State hit on 77.3 percent of their free throws (17-of-22)
• Texas Southern sank 17-of-26 attempts from the free-throw line (65.4 percent)
• GSU was outrebounded by TSU 36-27
• Grambling State scored 25 points off of 27 turnovers
• Texas Southern tallied 17 points on 16 turnovers
• TSU outscored GSU 27-10 in fast-break points
• GSU held a 25-10 advantage in bench points
• Grambling State scored three second-chance points. Texas Southern posted eight second-chance points  
• TSU held a 34-30 advantage on points in the paint

UP NEXT

Grambling State travels to Daytona Beach, Fla. to take on one of the newest members of the SWAC, Bethune-Cookman, this Saturday. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. EST at the Moore Gymnasium.

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