Orangeburg, S.C. – Despite a late game rally the Savannah State University Lady Tigers fell to South Carolina State 55-48 Saturday at the Smith-Hammond Memorial Center in Orangeburg, S.C., in front of 460 fans.

The Lady Bulldogs held a 9-point lead with 3:45 left on a jumper from Tracey Flowers, setting the score at 52-43. Savannah State answered with jumpers from Jasmine Norman, and Blessing Uba.

With 38 seconds remaining Fila Smith hit a free-throw to make it a 53-48, the closest the Lady Tigers came to challenging South Carolina State's lead in the second half.  Trinese Fox nailed two free-throws with 8 seconds sealing up the final score.

In the opening half, the Lady Tigers took a 13-9 lead 7 minutes in on a good jumper from Ezinne Kalu. The four point margin would be the biggest lead Savannah State had, as the Lady Bulldogs quickly bounced back tying the game three minutes later. Cabriel Duran tied the game at 13 with a good layup.

South Carolina State's Paris Alston hit two free-throws with 6:59 showing to give the home team a lead they never relinquished. The Lady Bulldogs headed into the locker room with a 31-21 lead behind an 11-3 run in the last six minutes of the half.

Kalu led the Lady Tigers with 14 points, while Jasmine Kirkland sank 13 and brought down six rebounds. Fila Smith led Savannah State in rebounds with nine. Norman added 10 points.

The Lady Bulldogs had four players in double digits. Fox led with 12, Alston followed with 11, while Flowers and Knotts each put up 10.

Savannah State falls to 8-13, 2-7 with the loss, while South Carolina goes up 9-11, 4-5.  The Lady Tigers face off with Longwood University in a non-conference home game, Monday, February 6^th.