WINSTON SALEM, N.C. – The Savannah State Lady Tigers ended their basketball season with a 51-28 loss to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in the first round of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament at Joel Coliesum in Winston-Salem, North Carolina Monday.

The Lady Tigers end their season with a 10-20 overall record, and a 3-14 MEAC record. Sophomore Ezinne Kalu led the Lady Tigers overall in scoring, averaging 17.6 points per game, with 529 total points. Kalu was named to the MEAC All-Conference second team earlier this week. Sophomore Jasmine Kirkland was second in points with 261 total, averaging 8.7 per game.

Senior Alisha Nelson ends her last season with Savannah State, leading the team in rebounds with 154, averaging 7.0 per game. Nelson was named MEAC Defensive Player of the Week (Jan. 15). Senior Fila Smith ends the season with 61 points, 30 steals and 77 rebounds.

Kalu sank a layup two minutes into the game to give the Lady Tigers their only lead. Maryland Eastern Shore's Kwinnyata Mercer dropped a 3-pointer four minutes later for the go ahead 2 points and a lead they never relinquished.  Savannah State went on a 13 minute scoring drought, in which Maryland Eastern Shore jumped out to a 13-2 lead.

Zadous Pollard sank 2 free-throws at the 6:40 mark to break the Lady Tigers scoring drought in the first half. The Lady Hawks held onto the momentum in the waning moments of the opening half, going up 23-8 on a good free-throw from Jessica long with 2:25 on the clock.

Pollard ignited an 8-0 run in last 2 minutes with back-to-back 3-pointers.Smith added a layup for Savannah State with seconds left to make it a 7 point game at 23-16 into the half.
Out of the locker room the Lady Hawks went on a 9-2 run in the first 8 minutes for a 34-18 lead. Savannah State struggled to recover as Maryland Eastern Shore extended their lead by 20 points late in the second half when Adobi Agbasi sank a free-throw to make it 47-27.

Kalu added the Lady Tigers last point of the season, sinking a free-throw with 1:06 left.  Kalu led the scoring for Savannah State with 12 points, and in rebounds with 8. Pollard followed with 9. Mercer led the Lady Hawks with 17 points, while Agbasi recorded a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds.