JACKSON, Miss. (Interstat) — A dominant third-quarter surge propelled the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles to a 59-53 victory over the Jackson State Lady Tigers in a non-conference women’s basketball game Friday night at the Lee Williams Athletic Center.

In a contest defined by defensive pressure and offensive struggles, Tennessee Tech broke open a tight game after halftime. The Golden Eagles, who led by just two points at the break, erupted for 24 points in the third quarter while holding Jackson State to 15, turning a narrow 26-24 advantage into a more comfortable 50-39 lead entering the final period.

The Golden Eagles improved to 2-0 on the young season, while the Lady Tigers evened their record at 1-1.

Cam Mathews led all scorers for Tennessee Tech, finishing with 16 points and five assists. She was complemented by Reghan Grimes, who added 14 points and two blocks, and Reagan Hurst, who chipped in 13 points and four assists. LaReesha Cawthorn anchored the defense with three blocks.

Jackson State was led by Leianya Massenat, who scored 15 points. Jaileyah Cotton contributed five points and four assists.

Both teams struggled to find an offensive rhythm, with Tennessee Tech shooting 36.5 percent from the floor and Jackson State managing 35 percent. The difference came from beyond the arc, where the Golden Eagles made five three-pointers compared to just one for the Lady Tigers, who went 1 for 13 from long range.

Jackson State controlled the paint, outscoring Tennessee Tech 38-20, and capitalized on turnovers, scoring 24 points off 23 Golden Eagle miscues. However, Tennessee Tech’s defense was equally disruptive, forcing 19 turnovers and recording 10 steals.

The game was a back-and-forth affair in the early going. Jackson State held a 21-17 lead late in the second quarter before Tennessee Tech closed the half on a 9-0 run to take a 26-24 lead into the locker room, setting the stage for their decisive third-quarter run.

The Lady Tigers attempted a fourth-quarter comeback, outscoring the Golden Eagles 17-9 in the final frame, but the deficit proved too large to overcome.

An announced crowd of 412 watched the contest. Tennessee Tech’s next game is at home against Middle Tennessee on Tuesday. Jackson State travels to face Mississippi State on Thursday.