No. 17 Lady Senators remain unbeaten in TCCAA play

JACKSON, Tenn. — Walters State continues its torrid run through Tennessee Community College Athletic Association women's basketball action Saturday afternoon with a 62-42 victory over Jackson State on the road.

The 17th-ranked Lady Senators won for the 154th time in the last 155 TCCAA games, including 11 straight this season, by taking an early lead and never trailing while dominating on the defensive side of the floor in the win.

Walters State (19-4, 11-0 TCCAA) limited the Lady Green Jays (12-8, 5-7 TCCAA) to less than 30 percent shooting and forced 21 turnovers while also keeping the home team below 25 percent from 3-point range in the contest.

Offensively, the Lady Senators were efficient enough in the game, shooting 42.3 percent (22 of 52) from the field, including 4 of 15 from long range, while making 14 of 21 at the charity stripe. WSCC held a 36-28 edge on the glass while committing just nine turnovers in the contest.

Zacharyia Esmon played a big role in the victory, scoring 4 points in the first period and the first 5 points of the second frame on her way to a dozen first half points and 21 points for the game.

Esmon was assisted by Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu, who tallied another double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds, while Alexis Trice added 8 points, Jamya Rogers had 7 points and 11 boards, Diamond Forrest had 6 points and Brianna Dixon dished out 9 assists in the win.

Walters State held a 15-8 lead after one period and led by as much as 15 points in the first half before settling for a 28-18 margin at halftime. The lead grew to 20 in the third period after a 14-4 run over the first 7:37 of the second half made it a 42-22 lead, and the margin held at 46-27 entering the fourth.

The Lady Senators padded the lead to 55-32 on a triple by Trice with 4:32 left in the game, the largest lead of the contest, before coasting to the win.

Jackson State shot just 27.5 percent (14 of 51) from the field, making 6 of 26 from downtown and 8 of 13 at the stripe. Shania Johnson led the Lady Jays with 15 points, while Sarah Scott and Semajia Ogburn both had 10 points in the loss.

Walters State will be back in action Friday evening with a home game against TCCAA rival Volunteer State. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.