GRAMBLING, La. – All 11 participating players scored for Grambling State as the Tigers defeated visiting Bethune-Cookman by a score of 64-54 in what was a crucial Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Women's Basketball contest for the Wildcats on Monday evening inside FCH Assembly Center.
 
Despite shooting 38.5 percent from the field in the opening half, Bethune-Cookman (15-15, 6-11 SWAC) trailed 27-24 at the break.
 
In the third period, Camerah Langston's layup early-on brought the Wildcats to within 27-26.
 
However, Grambling State (19-8, 13-3 SWAC) went on a 7-0 run – thanks in part to the combination of Jazmyne Jackson and Amanda Blake, to up its lead at 34-26 following a Blake free throw.
 
BCU then embarked upon an 8-0 scoring run of its own that saw Daimoni Dorsey's three-pointer tie the ball game at 34-all with 6:06 remaining in the quarter. In the run for the Maroon and Gold, point guard D'Shantae Edwards connected on just her third three-pointer of the year while also putting in a driving layup.
 
The host Tigers would limit Bethune-Cookman to just four points over the last six minutes of the quarter, closing on a 12-4 run to take a 46-38 lead into the final period. Jackson and Blake would combine for 12 of the Tigers' 19 points in the period, as teammate Kahia Warmsley finished 2-for-2 from the floor in the period recording four points of her own.
 
In the fourth quarter, GSU established its first double-digit lead of the contest when Brenda McKinney put a basket in off the glass to give the Tigers a 48-38 advantage. Moments later after BCU's Chanelle McDonald converted one of two at the foul line, Anijah Grant connected on two shots from the charity stripe to put the Tigers back up by double figures, 50-39.
 
In the fourth quarter, BCU was limited to just 4 of 19 shooting, but did manage to toe the foul line 11 times. The Cats would shoot 11 of their 22 free throws on the night in the fourth quarter alone.
 
The lead would change hands three times in the opening period as the visitors shot 45.5 percent from the floor, but failed to connect on its three long range efforts. In fact, neither team found its stroke from three-point territory all night, with BCU finishing just 2 of 14, and the Tigers shooting 2-for-15 in the game.
 
BCU's Kayla White took a pass from Grambling's Jordyn Carter and raced to the basket for the 16-15 lead just nine seconds into the second quarter. Nevertheless, it would be the last lead of the night for the Wildcats.
 
For Grambling State, the Tigers were led on the night by 12 points from Jackson and 11 from Tiana Gardner. Grant ended with a game-high 13 rebounds. Warmsley led all players with four assists.
 
BCU was paced in scoring with a game-high 16-point outburst from White, who has now reached double figures scoring in each of her last three contests. Edwards added 11 points. And it was junior center Kayla Clark supplying seven points and nine rebounds.
 
The Wildcats close the regular season portion of the 2023-24 schedule Saturday, March 9, when traveling to in-state foe Florida A&M for a 2 p.m. contest at the Al Lawson Center.
 
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