HOUSTON (Interstat) — In a game defined by a decisive third-quarter surge, the Alabama State Lady Hornets snapped a three-game skid and secured a critical Southwestern Athletic Conference road victory, defeating the Texas Southern Lady Tigers 82-74 on Thursday night at Health & P.E. Arena.

The contest pivoted dramatically after halftime. Texas Southern, fueled by a game-high 29 points from Taliyah Logwood, had built a 46-38 lead by intermission. The Lady Tigers’ offense was humming, and their pressure defense had forced 12 first-half Alabama State turnovers.

The second half, however, belonged entirely to the Lady Hornets. Alabama State emerged from the locker room with renewed defensive intensity, holding Texas Southern to just 16 points in the third quarter while erupting for 25 of their own. The 17-point swing transformed an eight-point deficit into a 63-62 Alabama State lead entering the final period.

Clearia Peterson, a 5-foot-9 guard from Detroit, was instrumental in the turnaround. She scored 12 of her team-high 20 points after halftime, anchoring the paint with physical play. Her defensive presence, which included a block and multiple key rebounds, helped stifle the Lady Tigers’ interior attack. Alongside Peterson, guard Caylee Simpson of Columbus, Georgia, provided a consistent scoring punch, finishing with 21 points, while backcourt mate Shamya Reid, also from Detroit, added 13 points and two assists.

The Lady Hornets sealed the win with composure down the stretch in the fourth quarter. After Texas Southern closed to within four points multiple times, Alabama State answered each push with critical baskets, often generated by their defense. They finished the game shooting 49.2 percent from the floor and capitalized at the free-throw line, making 18 of 25 attempts.

While Logwood’s scoring kept Texas Southern afloat, the Lady Tigers struggled with efficiency all night. They shot just 37.3 percent from the field and a costly 21 of 39 from the foul line. Their 18 turnovers matched Alabama State’s total, but the Lady Hornets proved more adept at turning those opportunities into points during their game-altering run.

Beyond the key trio, Alabama State received valuable contributions from its bench. Alanah Pooler of Houston scored 10 points, and Kaitlyn Bryant of Opelika, Alabama, added 10 points and seven rebounds, providing crucial energy during the comeback.

For Texas Southern, Daeja Holmes of Fresno, California, supported Logwood with 11 points, but the team’s offense grew stagnant in the second half against a tightened Alabama State defense. The Lady Tigers, who entered the game with an 8-10 record, saw a two-game conference win streak end.

The victory improved Alabama State to 6-11 overall and provided a significant boost in the SWAC standings. The loss dropped Texas Southern to 8-11. According to Interstat’s ELO system, Texas Southern had been projected with an 88.90 percent probability to win, making the Alabama State comeback a substantial upset.

Alabama State will look to build on the momentum Saturday at Prairie View. Texas Southern will aim to regroup at home against Alabama A&M on Saturday.