COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee State kept pace with the league-leaders, staying just two games out of first place, with a 67-57 Ohio Valley Conference victory at Tennessee Tech Thursday night in the Eblen Center.

The Lady Tigers (15-11 overall) improved their conference log to 11-4 with the victory.

The Golden Eagles, still battling for a spot in the eight-team OVC Tournament, fell to 7-20 overall and 5-11 within the OVC with two league games remaining.

Jasmine Smith had a double-double by halftime, with 10 points and 11 rebounds in the first 20 minutes. She finished with 16 points and 18 rebounds, and also had four assists, four steals and two blocked shots.

Tiffany Jackson also had double figures by the break, with 10 in the first half before finishing with 16 points and five rebounds. Kendra Appling scored 10 in the second period to finish with 16.

The Golden Eagles were led in scoring by Blair Bowens with 13, while Meagan Lyons added 11. Vivian Nwosu finished with nine points, five rebounds and three blocked shots, and Allison Price had eight points, six rebounds and five assists.

The Tigers had a 41-32 advantage in rebounds. TSU shot 45.6 percent, while Tech hit 38.6 percent from the field.

The Lady Tigers forced three quick ball-handling mistakes and took advantage to run out to a 7-0 lead to open the game. Once Tech got untracked, the Golden Eagles drew to within two, 7-5.

Up by four, 16-12, Tennessee State hammered together a 12-2 run to build a 28-14 lead with 7:26 to go in the half. During the run, five different players scored for TSU. The Lady Tigers kept a double-digit advantage  all the way until halftime, when Meagan Lyons scored with five seconds left to make it an 11-point game, 37-26.

Early in the second half, Tech trimmed the difference to four points, opening play with a 9-2 run to make it 39-35. The margin hovered between four and five, before TSU went on a 14-3 run, building its lead to 16 points at 59-43 with 5:12 to play. Hicks started the stretch with a layup, and Appling hit back-to-back layups.

The Golden Eagles were able to get the margin into single digits twice in the final two minutes, including an eight-point deficit when Rachel Glidden hit a layup with 39 seconds remaining.

The Golden Eagles will recognize their four senior players and two senior team managers Saturday before tipoff when they host Austin Peay in a 7 p.m. contest. It’s Tech’s final home game in Eblen Center.

Ticket are available at the Athletics Ticket Office in the Eben Center lobby, or by calling (931) 372-3940. Tickets may also be purchased online at TTUsports.com.