Avent Has Another Big Game As TSU Defeats Southern 87-77

Andriana Avent led four players in double figures as TSU used a fourth quarter surge to defeat Southern 87-77 on Monday night.
 
TSU jumped out to a 19-9 lead less than six minutes in behind a team effort. A 6-1 run by Southern cut the deficit to 20-15 with 3:11 remaining but TSU turned the heat up to close out the half as Ataiya Bridges scored five points within the final 46 seconds as TSU ended the half ahead 29-16 after a 9-1 surge.
 
Five turnovers within the first five minutes allowed Southern to creep back into the game as they outscored TSU 13-2 to get within 31-29. Andriana Avent answered with a big three-pointer to give TSU a 34-29 lead and was a one-woman wrecking crew to close out the half as she scored the final eight points. However, Southern was hot from the arc as they hit a trio of three pointers to tie the contest at 42-all at the half.
 
SU would open the third quarter with a basket and regained a 44-42 lead. They would lead by as much as five but TSU responded and reclaimed a 53-51 lead after Alisia Knight's three-point play the old-fashioned way. SU would regain the lead at the 3:56 mark on a three-pointer and closed out the quarter ahead 63-62.
 
TSU's Jada Perry opened the fourth quarter with a big basket to move TSU ahead and Knight stole a pass and scored as TSU went ahead 66-63. SU would close to within 66-65 after two free throws but TSU held them off as they forced three turnovers over the next three minutes. Avent came up big once again with a three-pointer to move TSU up six (73-67) as it sparked a 19-7 surge which moved the victory needle to TSU.
 
The win marked the first over SU since Jan. 4, 2020 as Avent led TSU with 32 points. Ataiya Bridges added 20 points, eight assists and five rebounds while Knight chipped in with 10 followed by Jada Perry's double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds.
 
TSU is back on the road Saturday at Mississippi Valley State at 2 p.m.