Huge third quarter propels No. 23 Walters State over Roane State, 71-44

MORRISTOWN, TN – No. 23 Walters State outscored Roane State 26-12 in the third quarter on Wednesday night, blowing open a close game and going on for a 71-44 win.

With the victory, the Lady Senators improved to 15-4 on the season and 12-0 in TCCAA play. Walters State's win streak increased to seven. 

"I am blessed and grateful to be able to coach this group," Walters State coach Jasmin Coleman said. "We were able to pull together tonight and pull out a win over a good Roane State team. I thought we did an awesome job defending and contesting shots without fouling. It was definitely a team effort tonight."

Team effort was a perfect way to describe the Lady Senators' performance on Wednesday. Walters State had three score in double figures and all eight players that dressed scored.

Leading the way in the scoring column for Walters State was Kyra Perkins with 18 points, while Terryauna Griffin added 14 points. Other scorers for Walters State were Nyjah Gibbs with 10 points, Jahliya McDonald with nine points, Raegan Starks with eight points, Anaya Mulholland-Natt with five points, Alexis Hood with four points and Morgan Williams with three points. 

Roane State actually got out to a quick start in the game, leading 11-6 six minutes in. However, the Lady Senators woke up quick as Mulholland-Natt drilled a three, Perkins knocked in a trey and Williams hit a three to give Walters State a 15-11 lead. Roane scored one final time in the quarter, but the Lady Senators led 15-13 after one. 

Perkins and Starks scored to start the second for Walters State and extended the lead to six. Roane State cut the lead to three, but Walters State rallied off a 9-0 run to go up 29-17. During the run, Griffin scored five in a row, McDonald scored and Gibbs scored. The Lady Senators led 29-21 at the break.

The third quarter was when the game changed. Roane State hung around for the first four minutes of the quarter and trailed by seven, but the Lady Senators took control with a 10-0 run. The run started with a McDonald basket and Mulholland-Natt followed with a two. After Perkins scored, McDonald scored four more points and the lead was 46-29. 

Roane State broke the run with a three, but Perkins converted an and-one. Perkins scored again in the final minute of the quarter before Starks scored four to close the quarter and give the Lady Senators a 55-33 advantage. 

In the fourth, the Lady Senators scored 16 more points and cruised to the win. Perkins had six points, while Griffin hit five free throws. 

Up Next:

Walters State will be back in action on February 5 at Cleveland State. Tip is set for 5:30 pm.