Box Score LAS VEGAS – Junior Marneisha Hamer scored a game-high 27 points and grabbed nine rebounds as the Jackson State women's basketball team rolled past Illinois-Chicago 72-57 Saturday afternoon at the Las Vegas Holiday Hoops Classic.
 
The first half was evenly matched and UIC (2-8) went into halftime with a 28-27 lead.
 
The Lady Tigers (4-6) went to Hamer early and often in the second half and the Memphis native scored 21 of her 27 points. JSU outscored UIC 45-29 in the second stanza.
 
"We increased the pressure in the second half and went to the full-court press," JSU head coach Tomekia Reed said following the game. "Marneisha was unstoppable and she demanded the ball and we fed the ball to her through our offense."
 
Junior Kaisah Lucky dropped 15 points and made her living at the free-throw line and converted 8-of-12 attempts. Junior Sumer Williams came off the bench and added 10 points and went 2-of-2 from three-point range.
 
"Kaisah and Sumer both played well and stepped up," added Reed. "We played as a team and with good defense. Our trip to Las Vegas provided us with an opportunity to get better and prepare us conference play."
 
The Lady Tiger's defense was stingy and held UIC to 33.3 percent shooting and forced 37 turnovers. JSU connected on 42.2 percent (27-of-64) of its shots from the floor.
 
JSU returns to action December 30 at Arkansas, which will be broadcasted on SECTV+.