In a hard-fought battle during the first round of the Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT), Texas Southern edged out Saint Mary’s 54-50 on Thursday night at H&PE Arena in Houston.
The Tigers’ defensive tenacity and timely scoring secured the victory and advanced to the next round of postseason play.
Texas Southern jumped out to an early lead, fueled by two quick three-pointers from guard Daeja Holmes. Holmes, who finished with 12 points, reflected on her performance after the game: “I felt confident tonight. My teammates set me up perfectly, and we knew we had to start strong against a team like Saint Mary’s.”
Saint Mary’s fought back throughout the game, with Maia Jones leading the charge for the Gaels. Jones contributed 14 points and kept her team within striking distance.
“We gave it everything we had,” said Jones. “Texas Southern played tough defense, but I’m proud of how we competed until the final buzzer.”
RECAP | Fantroy’s double-double leads @TSUWomensHoops to 2025 Postseason #WNIT opening-round victory over Saint Mary’shttps://t.co/Kn5u8z2BmC pic.twitter.com/1ciTpQXpH8
— WNIT (@WomensNIT) March 21, 2025
The Tigers’ rebounding dominance proved crucial, as they outpaced Saint Mary’s on the boards. Aylasia Fantroy, who grabbed six rebounds and added eight points, emphasized teamwork in her postgame comments: “Rebounding was a focus for us. We knew controlling the glass would give us more opportunities to score.”
Texas Southern head coach Vernette Skeete praised her team’s resilience in the Tigers’ first-ever WINT win.
“We got to get this money. We are there; we have to perform, said Skeete. “There is no running now. That’s what life is about. That’s what I hope to teach in every element — we got to get this money.”
The Tigers next will face Louisiana Tech on Monday, March 24, in Ruston, Louisiana.