SAVANNAH, Ga.- The Savannah State women's basketball team guaranteed themselves a winning season with a 55-41 victory over Voorhees in Tiger Arena.

It is the first winning season for the program since posting a 15-14 record under Tamica Smith during the 1998-99 campaign.

Ezinne Kalu scored 17 points for SSU (14-10) while Courtney Long chipped in 15 points, 7 steals and 6 assists.

Savannah State jumped out to a 17-4 lead but Voorhees, who shot 17.4 percent from the floor in the first half, battled back to get within seven with 6:23 left.

SSU held Voorhees scoreless the remainder of the period and went into intermission carrying a 24-14 edge.

Voorhees hung around for most of the second half.

Leading 36-28, SSU scored seven unanswered points to pull ahead by 15 with 9:52 on the clock.

Voorhees never got closer than 12 the rest of the way and with 1:03 remaining SSU had built a 55-38 advantage.

Keia Tillman had 10 points for Voorhees (22-6) while Rashonda Mayfield grabbed 10 rebounds for the NAIA school.

Voorhees out-rebounded Savannah State 34 to 31 and the VC reserves out-scored the SSU bench players 18 to 6.

SSU shot 42.9 percent from the field.