By Josh Elder, Grambling State Athletics Intern
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Grambling State women’s basketball head coach Courtney Simmons and her Lady Tigers reached the 20-win mark for the first time since the 2002-03 season with a 60-55 win over Alabama A&M on Thursday night at the AAMU Events Center.
Simmons also became the second coach in GSU women’s basketball history to win 20 at least 20 games their debut season. David Ponton notched 23 wins in first season in 1997-98, a year the culminated in a SWAC Title for GSU.
The victory also stretched Grambling States’ winning streak to nine games, it’s longest since 2002-03 as well.
GSU (20-8 overall, 14-3 SWAC) came out red hot against Alabama A&M (15-14, 10-7) going into the halftime break with a 17-point lead. The Lady Tigers shot an impressive 14-of-22 (63.6 percent) from the field in the first half. Holding their opponent to 8-of-28 (28.6 percent) shooting.
Jordyn Carter, Anijah Grant, and Kahia Warmsley led the way in scoring, notching 12 points apiece.
The Bulldogs were able to rally back in the third quarter out scoring Grambling State 15-8 in the period. Alabama also out rebounded the Tigers 13-6 in the quarter.
The game stayed close heading into the fourth quarter as a Warmsley 3-pointer stopped a 7-0 run late in the fourth. Anijah Grant’s clutch layup with under a minute left in the game brought the score to 60-54 and sealed the victory.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Grambling State shot 20-of-45 (44.4 percent) from the field, 3-of-10 (30 percent) from three-point range and 17-of-23 (73.9 percent) from the free throw line.
- Alabama A&M shot 20-of-55 (36.4 percent) from the field, 3-of-16 (18.8 percent) from three-point range and 12-of-27 (44.4 percent) from the free throw line.
- The Lady Tigers 28 bench points 24 points in the paint and 6 points off turnovers.
- Alabama A&M’s Kaylah Turner was the game’s leading scorer with 15 points.