DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. | The Grambling State University women's basketball team faced off against Bethune-Cookman in Monday night's matchup at Moore Gymnasium, pushing past BCU for a 59-52 win.

Leah Morrow paced GSU with 16 points, eights rebounds, two assists and three steals. Phylicia Allen registered 14 points, three rebounds, three steals and one assist. Miracle Saxon clinched a double-double with 11 points, ten rebounds, one assist and three blocks.

The first quarter of the game started slow for both teams. Grambling State (9-18 overall, 8-8 SWAC) shot 4-of-12 (33.3 percent) from the field, while BCU(10-16 overall, 9-7 SWAC) went 3-of-14 (21.4 percent). Neither team could get into a rhythm as they ended the quarter tied, 9-9.

Early in the second quarter the Wildcats started to stretch the gap as they led 17-12 with 6:13 remaining. The Tigers continued to fight as they closed in on BCU, trimming the deficit to 21-20 with 2:44 to go. A layup by Saxon gave Grambling State a 22-20 advantage late in the period. A basket by Amanda Blake near the end of the half, gave GSU a 24-21 lead at the half. 

Coming out of the break, both teams turned on the pressure. Bethune-Cookman shot slightly better than GSU going 5-of-12 from the field and 4-of-5 from the charity stripe. Meanwhile Grambling State only shot 35.7 percent (5-of-14) from the field and 75 percent ( 3-of-4) from the free-throw line. Despite the back and forth battle, GSU led 37-35 at the end of the quarter.

Early in the 4th quarter the Tigers went on a 8-0 run leading BCU 43-36 with 8:14 remaining. 

Morrow stretched the lead to ten points with 6:34 remaining but offensive and defensive mistakes made by Grambling allowed Bethune-Cookman to go on a 10-0 run tying the game 47-47 with 4:13 remaining in the game. 

After BCU nabbed a 50-49 lead, the Tigers smothered the Wildcats down the stretch, using a 10-0 run to grab a 59-50 lead and put the game away with 16 seconds to play. 

Nia Jordan led the Wildcats with 16 points and six rebounds.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Grambling State shot 46.2 percent from the floor (24-of-52) and 30.8 percent (4-of-13) from behind the arc. GSU went 7-of-10 (70 percent) from the charity stripe.
• Bethune-Cookman was 17-of-50 from the floor (34 percent), shooting 10 percent (1–of-10) from three-point range. BCU went 17-of-21 (81 percent) from the free throw line.
• Grambling State scored 21 points off turnovers, the Wildcats scored 18.
• GSU registered 32 points in the paint. BCU tallied 20.

UP NEXT
Grambling State return to action on Thursday against Alabama A&M. Tip-off against the Bulldogs is set for 5 p.m. at the Fredrick C. Hobby Assembly Center.

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