PULASKI, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee Southern women's basketball hosted Thomas University at the Curry Athletic Complex on Saturday. UT Southern eclipsed 90 points for the third consecutive game overpowering the Nighthawks 92-51. UT Southern improved to 9-6 overall and 8-3 in league play.
Four Firehawks tallied double figures in points, and three players turned in double double performances in the win. Daysha Reid led all scorers with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Takiyah Goff pitched in 19 points and seven assists. Lauren Smith tallied 15 points and yanked down 15 rebounds. Kassidy Broussard added 11 points and 10 rebounds.
UTS opened the match scoring on two free throws only to see the Nighthawks take their only lead of the game on the next possession via a three-point play. UTS would close out the quarter outscoring TU 26-7, leading 28-10. UTS shot 10-21 for 48% to Thomas' 3-17 for 17%. Reid and Smith led the Firehawks with seven apiece.
In the second quarter, both teams struggled to find the hoop, but the Firehawks still shot close to 50% extending their lead to 46-21 at the break. Reid added six points giving her 13 first half points.
In the third quarter, the Firehawks exploded netting 24 points. The scoring flurry was fueled by eight points by Reid. Both Reid and Smith completed double doubles in the final four minutes of the period. UTS led 70-29 after three.
In the final quarter, Broussard yanked down a pair of boards giving her the third double double for the Firehawks. UTS pushed out to their largest lead of 45 in the final two minutes to win their fourth game in a row.
 
BY THE NUMBERS
42.7 – UTS shot 35-82 for 42.7 percent outshooting the Nighthawks 20-67 (29.9%).
13 – UTS drained a baker's dozen of trifectas, 10 more than TU.
9 – UTS connected on nine of 15 free throws, to TU's eight of 16 from the foul line.
50 – The Firehawks pulled down 50 rebounds in the game, three less than the Nighthawks.
45 – For the second consecutive game, UT Southern led by as many as 45, this occurred at the 1:34 mark in the fourth quarter, leading 90-45.
22 – UTS had 22 points on fast breaks.
17 – The Firehawks complied 17 steals in the game, 12 more than the Nighthawks.
27 – The Firehawk defense continued to provide problems for the opposition causing 27 turnovers.
33 – UT Southern cashed in on Thomas' errors, netting 33 points off turnovers and not allowing any points on their own errors.
NEXT UP
The Firehawks will travel to Mobile, Ala., on Thursday, February 6 to battle the Rams. The action is set to begin at 5:30 p.m. The Rams defeated the Firehawks in Pulaski earlier this season 72-68 on December 7.
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