The Kentucky State University women's basketball team scored 12 of the first 13, and 20 of the first 27 points, en route to a 60-45 rout of rival Central State Saturday in Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action at the William Exum Center in front of more than 2,000 fans.



Kentucky State, in waxing the Marauders, never trailed and held a double-figure lead in 34 of the game's 40 minutes.

Seniors Victoria Blankenship (Fayetteville, N.C), Amani Williams (Scotch Plains, N.J.) and Carnethia Brown (Louisville, Ky.) combined for 39 points and 13 rebounds in their final game at the Exum Center.

Defense ruled the roost for the first half as the Thorobreds smothered their visitors to the tune of 16.7 percent shooting (5-of-30) over the first 20 minutes to build a 20-point lead. The lead was 18 at the break.

However, Central State wasn't willing to lay down for the Thorobreds.

The Marauders went on a 12-4 run in the beginning of the half to pull to within 12 points, and then an 8-0 run later in the period pulled CSU to within single digits for the first time since the six-minute mark of the first quarter.

But, a three-point play and a buzzer-beating layup by Blankenship stemmed the tide and advanced the lead to 13 points. Kentucky State's lead wouldn't get under double figures for the rest of the game.

Blankenship finished with a team-high 19 points on 8-of-15 shooting with nine rebounds, three steals and two assists. Junior Erica Jones (South Haven, Miss.) continued her solid play as of late with 16 points, six rebounds, two assists, two blocks and two steals.

Williams added 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting with four rebounds, two steals and two assists.

As a team, Kentucky State shot 45.3 percent (24-of-53) from the field and 46.7 percent (7-of-15) from three-point land. The 46.7 percent from distance was the second-best percentage of the season.

Kentucky State (8-17 overall, 5-13 SIAC) will enter the upcoming Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament in Rock Hill, S.C. as the seventh seed in the Western Division. The Thorobreds will begin their journey in the postseason tournament 8 p.m. March 2.