HOUSTON, Texas | Just two nights after scoring a career-high 25 points, Sophomore guard Colbi Maples topped herself with a 32-point performance, leading the Grambling State University women's basketball team to a come from behind 76-69 victory over Texas Southern at the HP&E Arena on Wednesday night.
The Earle, Ark. native set the court ablaze, shooting 50.0 percent from the field (13-of-26) while snagging one board and one steal.
Phylicia Allen put forth another solid performance for the Lady Tigers, contributing 11 points, securing her fifth double-digit scoring game of the season. She also grabbed four rebounds and picked up two steals. Leah Morrow also scored in double-figures for GSU, finishing with 11 points.
The game didn't get off to a promising start for Grambling State (3-10 overall, 2-0 SWAC), as Texas Southern (0-13, 0-2) raced out to a 12-3 lead. The Lady Tigers battled back, trimming the deficit to three when a layup by Allen made the score 16-13 with 1:31 to go in the opening quarter. TSU led 21-16 heading into the second period.
Texas Southern began the second frame much like the first quarter, building a 29-18 lead thanks to an 8-2 run over the first 2:34 of the period. GSU's Miracle Saxon sparked a 12-2 run for the Lady Tigers with basket at 5:29 mark. Maples capped the run with 3-pointer, cutting TSU's advantage to one point, 31-30, with 2:29 to play in the first half. Grambling State trailed 38-36 at the half.
The third quarter was where Grambling State took control of the game. Trailing 49-41 with 7:11 left in the period, Morrow hit a pull-up jumper to spark a 15-0 run. GSU tied the game at 49-49 on a layup by Morrow and then a bucket from Maples handed GSU its first lead of the contest, 51-49, with 3:44 let tin the third quarter. A pair of free throws by Kaci Chairs closed the run, putting the Lady Tigers on top 56-51.
Maples put the cherry on top of the third for GSU, nailing a long two-pointer at the buzzer, giving Grambling State a nine-point cushion at 64-55.
TSU's Micah Gray did her best to keep Texas Southern within reach of the lead, hitting a 3-pointer to cut GSU's lead to 66-62 with 5:23 to play, then knocking down two free throws shrinking Grambling State's advantage to 67-64 at the 3:49 mark. She led TSU with 30 points.
However, that would be as close as TSU could get, as Grambling State shut the door on Texas Southern down the stretch, securing the 76-69 triumph.
Head Coach Freddie Murray on Maples' Performance
"Colbi is accustomed to scoring like that. It's what she did in high school. Last year was a seasoned team loaded with veterans and she waited for her opportunity. She's assumed the leadership role and the game has really slowed down for her."
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Grambling State shot 39.1 percent from the field (25-of-64), connecting on 26.7 percent (4-of-15) of its three-point attempts. The Lady Tigers went 22-of-29 (75.9 percent) at the free throw line.
- Texas Southern went 24-of-53 from the field (45.3 percent). The Lady Tigers went 6-of-19 (31.6 percent) from three-point range and 16-of-22 (72.7 percent) on free throws.
- GSU outrebounded TSU 39-37
- Grambling State scored 36 points in the paint, 11 bench points, 18 points off 17 TSU turnovers, 16 second-chance points and eight fast break points
- Texas Southern registered 30 points in the paint, 12 points from the bench, eight points off 12 GSU turnovers, nine second-chance points and six fast break points
- Micah Gray paced TSU with 30 points and four rebounds
UP NEXT
Grambling State returns to action on Saturday for its SWAC home opener versus Bethune-Cookman at the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center. Tip-off is set for 3:30 p.m.
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