SAVANNAH, Ga. — The
Tuskegee University women's basketball team secured a crucial 58-50 victory over the
Savannah State Tigers to kick off their 2025 campaign in Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play on Saturday at Tiger Arena.
The win improved Tuskegee's record to 5-7 overall and 2-3 in the SIAC, while Savannah State fell to 6-7 overall and 2-5 in conference action.
Tuskegee came out strong in the opening period, building a quick 13-10 lead heading into the second quarter.
Despite a slow start shooting, finishing at just 28.6 percent from the field (4-14), the Golden Tigers showed resilience at the free throw line, making 100 percent of their attempts (4-4).
Savannah State struggled to convert offensively, shooting just 21.4 percent from the field (3-14), including 16.7 percent from three-point range (1-6). Tuskegee's defense proved to be a key factor, forcing the Tigers into multiple turnovers and limiting their second-chance opportunities.
The Golden Tigers continued to display their defensive prowess in the second half while capitalizing on key opportunities offensively.
Tuskegee's offense remained steady, led by strong individual efforts.
Hilani Cantone and
Jasmine Manuel were key players in the second half, with Cantone finishing with 12 points and Manuel contributing 12 points along with 15 rebounds.
The team's shooting improved to 60 percent in the third quarter, helping them push ahead by a margin of eight points, 36-28, entering the final period.
Despite a hard-fought effort from Savannah State in the fourth, where they cut the lead to just four points at 49-45 with 3:40 left, Tuskegee held on to secure the win.
The Golden Tigers shot 36.4 percent in the fourth quarter (4-11) and hit 87.5 percent of their free throws (7-8) to keep their lead intact. The defense stepped up, limiting Savannah State to only 12 points in the final period, stifling any attempts at a comeback.
La'Dajah Huguley provided solid support with nine points and four assists, while
Alexandria Johnson contributed nine points and five rebounds.
Savannah State was led by Amani Hamilton, who scored a game-high 15 points and had five assists and three rebounds.
Mya Byrd also played well, contributing 13 points and five assists, followed by 10 points from K'lya Hankerson, but the team's shooting woes, particularly from beyond the arc (5.9 percent), hurt their chances.
Tuskegee's offense was led by their ability to control the boards, finishing with 44 total rebounds, including 14 offensive rebounds, compared to Savannah State's 35.
The Golden Tigers won the battle in second-chance points, outscoring the Tigers 11-10 in that category.
Tuskegee's shooting numbers were solid overall, finishing 32.7 percent from the field (17-52) and 30.8 percent from three-point range (4-13). The team shot 71.4 percent from the free throw line (20-28), a significant factor in their victory.
Savannah State shot 33.3 percent from the field (20-60) and a dismal 5.9 percent from three-point range (1-17), which ultimately contributed to their downfall.
UP NEXT
Tuskegee will look to build on this victory as they continue their conference schedule. The Golden Tigers' next game will be on Monday, January 6, at Edward Waters for another important SIAC contest.
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ABOUT THE SOUTHERN INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE (SIAC)
The SIAC is a NCAA athletic conference consisting primarily of historically black colleges and universities with headquarters in downtown Atlanta, Georgia. The SIAC includes 15 member institutions (Albany State University, Allen University, Benedict College, Central State University, Clark Atlanta University, Edward Waters University, Fort Valley State University, Kentucky State University, Lane College, LeMoyne-Owen College, Miles College, Morehouse College, Savannah State University, Spring Hill College, and Tuskegee University), which are located within a contiguous seven-state footprint (Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee and Ohio). The SIAC sponsors nine men's and seven women's sports and is a proud member of the NCAA Division II. For more information, visit
www.thesiac.com.