SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. – Savannah State University women's basketball team narrowly fell to Seton Hall University 74-60 Friday to open the 2016-17 season in Walsh Gymnasium.
Graduate student guard Lauren "Gaby" Moss led the team with 19 points on 6-for-12 shooting from the floor, including 4-for-6 from the 3-point line and added four rebounds and two assists, while senior center
Tiyonda Davis led the team with 14 rebounds and added 16 points for a double-double. Davis shot 5-for-11 from the floor and added two assists, a block and a steal.
Senior forward
Jeremica Edwards recorded 13 rebounds, four points and three assists, while senior guard
Kenyata Hendrix added 10 points on 4-for-9 shooting, four assists, three rebounds and a steal.
Both teams started the game cold as the first basket came two minutes and 14 seconds into the game, a three-pointer by Seton Hall, to give SHU a 3-0 lead with 7:54 remaining in the first quarter. The Lady Tigers scored six of the next seven points to take a two-point lead, 6-4, with 6:04 remaining in the quarter, but the Pirates scored the next four points to take a two-point lead, 8-6, with 4:55 left.
Savannah State scored seven of the next 11 points to take a point lead, 13-12, with 2:02 remaining in the first quarter, but Seton Hall scored seven of the final nine points, including the last five points to break a 14 tie, to take a five-point first quarter lead.
The Pirates scored the first four points of the second quarter to take a nine-point lead, 23-14, with 8:48 remaining in the quarter, but Savannah State scored the next five points to cut the lead to four, 23-19, with 8:00 left. Seton Hall scored the next five points to put the lead back to nine, 28-19, with 6:00 remaining in the first half.
The Lady Tigers scored the next five points to cut the lead to four points, 28-24, with 4:48 left, but Seton Hall scored 14 of the final 19 points to take a 13-point lead, 42-29, at the half.
Two Seton Hall free throws to start the third quarter extended its lead to 15 points, 44-29, with 9:47 remaining, but the Lady Tigers scored seven of the next 12 points to cut the lead to 11 points, 47-36, with 6:49 remaining. Seton Hall scored six of the next seven points to increase the lead to 16 points, 53-37, with 4:13 left, but Savannah State scored eight of the final 10 points to cut the lead to 10 points, 55-45, after three quarters.
A three-pointer by junior guard
Kierstan Green cut the lead to single-digits, seven at 55-48, with 9:29 remaining the fourth quarter. Seton Hall scored 19 of the next 28 points to increase the lead to 17 points, 74-57, with nine seconds left in the game, but a Hendrix three-pointer cut the lead to the final margin of 14 points.
The Pirates were led by JaQuan Jackson with 21 points, LaTecia Smith with 16 points and five rebounds and Kaela Hilaire with 10 points and six assists.
The Lady Tigers host Columbia College Sunday at 4 p.m. in Tiger Arena for SSU's home opener. Savannah State then hosts Alabama State University Tuesday at 7 p.m.
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