7th-ranked Lady Senators use strong defensive effort to take 68-38 win over Chattanooga State

CHATTANOOGA, TN – No. 7 Walters State allowed single-digit points in both the first and fourth quarters against Chattanooga State on Wednesday evening, and the Lady Senators picked up a 68-38 win over the Tigers.

With the win, the Lady Senators improved to 18-2 overall and 15-0 in TCCAA play. 

Nyjah Gibbs led the way for Walters State, scoring 15 points in the first half and finishing with 17. Terryauna Griffin and Tierra Coleman each added 12, while Raegan Starks had 10 points. Other scorers were Tahara Diallo with three 3-pointers and nine points, Anaya Mulholland-Natt with four points, Paradise Fisher with two points and Malon Smith with two points. 

Chattanooga State got up 7-3 early in Wednesday's contest, but Walters State went on a 17-2 run over the final four minutes to go up 20-9. Gibbs started the run with a basket, and Griffin drained a 3-pointer. Coleman scored four straight a minute later, and Gibbs scored four quick ones to up the lead to 16-9. Coleman and Gibbs scored one final time in the last minute of the quarter, and the Lady Senators led by 11.

In the second, Gibbs picked up where she left off with four points in the first two minutes. Gibbs scored one more time in the quarter, which got the Lady Senators lead to 27-12, and Mulholland-Natt and Starks made baskets to make it 31-16. Mulholland-Natt hit a baseline floater for Walters State's final points of the half, and they led 33-20 at the break. 

In the third, the lead stayed around 13 until Diallo checked in with five minutes to go in the quarter. Diallo quickly hit a three, and after a Griffin layup, hit another one to make it 45-25. Diallo hit one more 3-pointer a minute later, and it was 48-27. Chattanooga State answered with a three, but Fisher scored in the final minute of the quarter, and Walters State led 50-30.

Starks opened the fourth quarter for Walters State with five straight points, and the Lady Senators were off and running again. Coleman got in on the fun with six straight points that made it 61-35, and Griffin scored five straight to get the final score to 68-38. 

Up Next:

Walters State closes out a hectic seven days on Saturday, hosting Dyersburg State. Tip is set for 2 pm ET.