No. 19 Lady Senators surge past Chattanooga State, 77-48

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Nineteenth-ranked Walters State used a large scoring margin in the third period to solidify another Tennessee Community College Athletic Association victory on the road Saturday afternoon.

The Lady Senators outscored Chattanooga State by 18 in the third frame, breaking open an 11-poiint halftime margin to a 29-point advantage, as Walters State left the Lookout City with a 77-48 victory over its TCCAA rival.

With the win, the Lady Senators now stand at 16-4 overall and 8-0 in TCCAA play, giving them wins in 153 of the last 154 games played against TCCAA competition.

The loss dropped the Lady Tigers to 10-6 on the year and 3-5 in league play, their third loss in the last four TCCAA contests.

Chattanooga State led twice early in the game but could not sustain any advantage, as the Lady Senators surged ahead and never trailed again once they took their second lead of the contest in the first frame. Brianna Dixon and Zacharyia Esmon both scored 5 points in the opening period, while Jamya Rogers added 4 as WSCC took a 17-12 lead after one.

The Lady Tigers hung tough, trailing by four until a 9-0 run by the Lady Senators, which included 5 points from Diamond Forrest and 4 from Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu, as the margin swelled to 13. The home team scored the next two buckets, but Mendjiadeu and Jalayah Manning both scored in the closing minute to build the lead to 37-26 at halftime.

WSCC shot a blistering 61.9 percent (13 of 21) from the field in the opening half, making all three attempts from deep and 8 of 10 at the foul line. Mendjiadeu tallied 15 points in the half, including 13 in the second frame, to help build the margin to double digits.

Chattanooga State shot just 30 percent (9 of 30) from the floor in the first 20 minutes, making 3 of 12 from long range and 5 of 8 at the stripe. Shanice Nelson led the home team with 8 points in the half.

The third quarter proved to be the difference in the game, as the Lady Senators started on a 6-0 run and used 7 points from Mendjiadeu and 5 each from Dixon, Alexis Trice and Derrinesha Jackson to outscore the home team 27-9 in the period, taking a 64-35 lead into the fourth. Both teams scored 13 points in the fourth.

The Lady Senators finished the contest shooting 50.9 percent (27 of 53) while connecting on 7 of 8 from long distance and 16 of 22 on free throws. WSCC also won the battle on the boards, 42-28, led by Mendjiadeu with eight. Mendjiadeu led all scorers with 22 points, while Dixon added 10, Forrest and Esmon had 9 each and Rogers totaled 7 in the win.

Chattanooga State shot just 28.6 percent (18 of 63) from the field in the contest, making only 5 of 29 on 3-pointers and 7 of 10 on free tosses. Nelson and Mackenzie Trouten led the home team with 10 points each.

The Lady Senators will be back at home next weekend to face Southwest Tennessee on Friday and Dyersburg State on Saturday in TCCAA action.