DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Leah Morrow scored 16 points and Phylicia Allen added 14 as Grambling State defeated Bethune-Cookman 59-52 in Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Women's Basketball at Richard V. Moore Gymnasium on Monday evening.
 
Grambling State (9-18, 8-8 SWAC) carried a 37-35 lead into the fourth quarter, thanks in part to five points in the period from Leah Morrow.
 
After Kayla Clark converted one of two at the foul line for Bethune-Cookman (10-17, 9-8), Grambling used a quick 6-0 run with Colbi Maples and Amanda Blake combining for five points during the run. The Tigers lead would stretch to 47-37 following a Morrow made layup stemming from a BCU turnover.
 
The Wildcats then turned up the pressure defensively which ignited a 9-0 run for the Maroon and Gold.
 
Nia Jordan scored fives straight points for the Wildcats as Chanel Wilson and Morgan Beacham combined to score five. Added another Jordan jumper in the paint just below the foul line, and BCU had tied the game at 49-all.
 
A Clark free throw with 2:37 remaining in the fourth quarter allowed the Wildcats their first lead since the latter stages of the third quarter.
 
With 1:07 showing on the clock, Grambling State's Phylicia Allen drove to the paint for the bucket and the foul – adding the free throw, to put the visitors up 52-50.
 
Blake picked up a steal and the layup, while Allen did the same moments later, to extend the Tigers lead at 56-50 with 34 seconds remaining. Another fast break layup, this time from Morrow, sealed the win for GSU.
 
Grambling State shot 60 percent from the field over the course of the final 10 minutes, going on to add five steals and converting those into 13 points. The Tigers outscored the Wildcats 16-6 in the paint in the final stanza as well.
 
Grambling State held a 24-21 lead at the half, after the two teams were deadlocked at 9-9 after the first period of play.
 
Bethune-Cookman shot 41 percent across the third and fourth quarters, respectively, but the Wildcats were unable to get anything going from beyond the arc, finishing the game just 1-of-10 from three-point range. However, the Maroon and Gold connected on 17-of-21 at the foul line.
 
Grambling State used Morrow's 16 points and eight rebounds on the night, while Allen supplied 14 points and three steals. Miracle Saxon also touched double-figures scoring with 11 points and 10 rebounds for her double-double.
 
BCU was paced by Jordan's 16 points and six rebounds. Beacham added 12 points and three rebounds of her own, while Clark pulled down a team-high nine boards and recorded two blocked shots.
 
Bethune-Cookman concludes the regular season on Saturday, March 4, when the Cats host Florida A&M to Moore Gymnasium at 2 p.m., for what will also be Senior Appreciation Day. The Wildcats will also be looking to stop a five-game losing skid in the process.
 
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