MORROW, Ga. — The
Albany State Lady Golden Rams delivered one of their most complete performances of the season Wednesday afternoon, stunning the No. 1 seed
Edward Waters Lady Tigers with a commanding 80–49 victory in the quarterfinals of the SIAC Women's Basketball Championship at the Clayton County Convocation Center.
From the opening tip, Albany State set the tone with energy, defensive intensity, and balanced scoring, taking control early and never looking back. The Lady Golden Rams won the tip and quickly jumped out to an 11–5 lead, establishing momentum that carried throughout the contest.
By the end of the first quarter, Albany State had already created separation, holding a decisive 21–8 advantage while limiting the Lady Tigers' offensive rhythm. The defensive pressure and rebounding dominance allowed the Lady Golden Rams to dictate the pace of the game.
Albany State continued to build on its strong start in the second quarter, maintaining control on both ends of the floor. The Lady Golden Rams carried a 37–21 lead into halftime, showcasing strong ball movement and interior play that kept Edward Waters from mounting a comeback.
The third quarter proved to be the turning point that sealed the game. Albany State erupted for 25 points in the period while continuing to dominate defensively.
The Lady Golden Rams stretched the lead to 62–36 heading into the final quarter, effectively putting the game out of reach and sending a clear message as they continued their tournament run.
Leading the charge for Albany State was
Na'Haviya Paxton, who delivered a dominant performance with 28 points and 11 rebounds. Paxton shot an impressive 12-of-19 from the field while adding five steals and a block, providing a spark on both ends of the court.
Sariah Johnson also turned in a double-double performance, finishing with 16 points and 12 rebounds while anchoring the Lady Golden Rams inside the paint. Her presence on the boards helped Albany State control the glass, as the team outrebounded Edward Waters 59–40.
Paris Triplett added another outstanding rebounding effort, pulling down a game-high 15 rebounds while contributing five points and three steals. Her relentless work on the boards helped Albany State create second-chance opportunities throughout the contest.
Khyla Ragins provided a strong boost off the bench with 10 points, while
Tiffani Goodman orchestrated the offense with six assists to keep the Lady Golden Rams' attack flowing.
As a team, Albany State shot 47.7 percent from the field and controlled the interior, scoring 40 points in the paint. The Lady Golden Rams also capitalized on defensive pressure, scoring 23 points off turnovers and adding 16 fast-break points. The bench also played a key role, contributing 20 points and providing valuable depth throughout the contest.
With the victory, the Lady Golden Rams advance to the SIAC Championship semifinals for the first time since March 8, 2024, when they faced Fort Valley State.
UP NEXT
Albany State will face the winner between Benedict and Lane in the semifinals on Friday, March 6, at 2 p.m. as the Lady Golden Rams continue their pursuit of the SIAC Championship.
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ABOUT ALBANY STATE ATHLETICS
Albany State University is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II-level intercollegiate athletic program. The university currently fields teams in 11 sports: women's volleyball, women's tennis, women's cross country, men's and women's basketball, softball, men's and women's track and field, women's soccer, baseball, and football, with all teams competing in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), except women's soccer, which participates in the Peach Belt Conference.
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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 (HBCUs) 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.