By Leon Mitchell, Grambling State Athletic Communications
HOUSTON — Grambling State faced a challenging start to Southwestern Athletic Conference play, falling to Texas Southern 85-74 on Thursday night at the H&PE Arena.
Grambling State (0-1 SWAC) started strong, taking an early 3-0 lead in the first quarter, but struggled to maintain momentum. The game saw five lead changes and five ties, with Texas Southern (1-0 SWAC) pulling away in the third quarter.
Texas Southern’s largest lead of 21 points came late in the third quarter, propelled by efficient shooting and capitalizing on turnovers. Grambling State mounted a strong fourth-quarter rally, scoring 30 points, but it was not enough to close the gap.
Kahia Warmsley led Grambling State with 19 points on 7-of-16 shooting, including 4-of-4 from the free-throw line, and added five rebounds. Douthshine Prien contributed 11 points, seven rebounds, and four assists, while Claire Simmonsprovided a spark off the bench with 10 points.
Grambling State held the advantage in points in the paint (42-38) and steals (12-9) but struggled with shooting efficiency, finishing at 34.2% from the field and 18.8% from three-point range.
For Texas Southern, Chrystin Loudermill led all scorers with 17 points, shooting 8-of-9 from the free-throw line, and added five rebounds. Aylasia Fantroy delivered an impressive performance, scoring 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting and securing seven rebounds. Derica Harris contributed a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds, while Texas Southern controlled the boards overall with a 53-50 rebounding edge.
Grambling State committed 18 turnovers but forced 22 from Texas Southern. Free throws proved pivotal, with Texas Southern converting 67.6% (25-of-37) compared to Grambling State’s 70.4% (19-of-27).
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Grambling State shot 34.2% from the field and 18.8% from three-point range, while Texas Southern finished at 39.7% overall and 28.6% from beyond the arc.
- Texas Southern held a slight rebounding advantage at 53-50, with both teams excelling on the offensive glass (Texas Southern 22, Grambling State 24).
- The Tigers forced 22 turnovers but committed 18 of their own, resulting in a 23-9 advantage for Grambling in points off turnovers.
- Texas Southern’s bench outscored Grambling State’s 32-28, contributing significantly to the victory.
- Points in the paint were a key area for Grambling State, scoring 42 compared to Texas Southern’s 38. However, Texas Southern capitalized on fast-break opportunities, outpacing Grambling 19-13.
- The game featured five ties and five lead changes, with Texas Southern maintaining a lead for over 33 minutes.
UP NEXT
Grambling State will travel to Prairie View, Texas, to face Prairie View A&M University on Saturday, January 4. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m.