SAVANNAH, Ga. – In their final tune-up game before opening Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) play this coming Saturday, the Savannah State women's basketball team edged by Allen University 78-73 in Tiger Arena for a 3-0 season record.
 
The Lady Tigers open a six-game SIAC conference run on Nov. 30 against Kentucky State. Tip-off in Tiger Arena is set for 1 p.m.
 
Savannah State came out strong with an 11-0 run in the first four minutes of the opening period. A stunned Allen University struggled to get anything to drop in the first five minutes of the game. At the end of the first period, SSU had a commanding 21-13 lead on the Yellowjackets.
 
The visitors began to notch themselves back into the contest in the second period, but SSU held them at arms length. Allen was never able to get within seven of the Lady Tigers lead in the first half. SSU led 41-32 into the locker room.
 
Early in the second half, the Lady Tigers pushed out to a 15-point lead (50-35). But the Yellowjackets put on some speed, a press and began dropping bombs. Over the course of four minutes, Allen broke free for a 15-5 run to cut the Lady Tigers lead to two points, 54-52, with 2:47 on the clock in the third period.
 
In the final minutes of the third, the Lady Tigers behind some keen work from newcomer Ta'Kyla Austin and returning sophomore Le'Andrea Gillis, pushed back out to a double-digit lead. At the buzzer, Mia Cooper hit a long three from nearly center court to lift SSU to a 64-52 lead.
 
But Allen wasn't done into the final quarter. SSU led 71-60 with 5:21 to play, then Kadejuha Kennedy hit a 3-pointer and followed that with back-to-back fast break layups and one good free-throw, cutting SSU's lead, all on her own, to 71-68.
 
Kennedy put in 11 of Allen's final 15 points of the game. Savannah State held firm though, keeping the Yellowjackets at bay in the final moments for the close victory.
 
Five Lady Tigers ended with double digits in the game and two put up double-doubles. SSU fielded only eight players on Wednesday due to a few injuries. They are expecting to be at full strength by Saturday.  
 
Amari Heard recorded her second career double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds. Alexus Bryant put up 10 points and brought down 14 boards for her second double-double of the season. Gillis led SSU in the win with 19 points, followed by Austin who put up 15. Azhana Maxwell added 13 to the win.
 
Kennedy led the field with 24 points on the day and 10 rebounds. Teammate Sydney Brown added 14 to the visitor's effort. Allen out-rebounded the Lady Tigers 65-50, but couldn't outshoot them as SSU paced 40.6% from the field to Allen's 30.7%.