GRAMBLING, La. (Interstat) — Zaria Johnson scored 18 points and the Grambling Lady Tigers capitalized on a staggering 26 Alabama State turnovers to secure a 67-53 victory in a Southwestern Athletic Conference women’s basketball game Saturday at Fredrick Hobdy Assembly Center.

The Lady Tigers, who entered the contest having lost three straight, improved to 7-16 overall. The Alabama State Lady Hornets fell to 10-12.

Grambling never trailed after the opening minutes, building a 20-15 lead after one quarter and maintaining a 32-26 advantage at halftime. The Lady Tigers stretched the lead to 50-40 heading into the final period and kept the Lady Hornets at bay throughout the fourth quarter.

The most critical factor in the game was Grambling’s overwhelming success in converting Alabama State’s mistakes into points. The Lady Tigers scored 25 points off 26 Lady Hornet turnovers, while Alabama State managed only nine points off 15 Grambling giveaways. This 16-point disparity proved insurmountable for the visitors, who otherwise battled evenly in several statistical categories.

Both teams finished with 12 assists and 12 steals. Alabama State held a 36-22 advantage in points in the paint and a 13-11 edge in offensive rebounds. The Lady Hornets’ inability to take care of the ball, however, negated those strengths and provided Grambling with a consistent source of offense.

Johnson, a 6-foot-1 guard from Houston, Texas, led all scorers. She was instrumental in the turnover-fueled attack, recording three of Grambling’s 12 steals. Shaniah Nunn added 14 points for the Lady Tigers, while Monica Marsh contributed 12 points and Alieghya Bartholomew had seven points, four assists and four rebounds.

For Alabama State, Caylee Simpson led the way with 19 points. Clearia Peterson, despite foul trouble, posted a strong all-around line with nine points and seven rebounds in just 16 minutes of action. Charlese McClendon grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds for the Lady Hornets.

Grambling’s offensive execution, while not always crisp, was markedly more efficient. The Lady Tigers posted an offensive rating of 92.4 points per 100 possessions, compared to Alabama State’s 73.5. Grambling shot 42.4% from the field and connected on 6 of 16 three-point attempts. Alabama State shot 39.2% overall and struggled from deep, making just 1 of 7 from beyond the arc.

The game was a departure from recent form for both teams. Alabama State had won three of its last four conference games, including a road victory at Southern on Thursday. Grambling had lost three consecutive SWAC contests, each by single digits. The Lady Tigers’ victory snapped that skid and provided a boost heading into the final stretch of the conference schedule.

The announced attendance was 567.

Alabama State returns home to host Mississippi Valley State on Thursday. Grambling hits the road for a conference matchup at Prairie View A&M on the same night. The two teams are scheduled to meet again in the regular-season finale at Alabama State on March 5.