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Women's Basketball

Game Central | Savannah State Women's Basketball vs. Benedict College

GAME CENTRAL

Benedict College Lady Tigers (4-0)
Vs. 
Savannah State Lady Tigers (0-0) 


TIME: 6 p.m. Feb. 11, 2021
LOCATION: Savannah, Ga. | Tiger Arena

LIVE STATS: http://bit.ly/2pUjjBZ
TIGER VISION LIVE STREAM: ssuathletics.com/watch
LADY TIGERS ROSTER: https://bit.ly/3tFdi8k
LADY TIGERS SCHEDULE: https://bit.ly/3qNEGiK

SOCIAL TIGERS: @SavStateTigers  
HASHTAGS: #HailSSU | #SSU
 

SAVANNAH, Ga – Following the postponement of their season opener on Tuesday, Savannah State women's basketball are geared up to get the season rolling on Thursday, Feb. 11 against Benedict College in Tiger Arena. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m.
 
Due to a mandate from the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), the game will be a closed event. Fans can find the exclusive live stream of the game at ssuathletics.com/watch.
 
SCOUTING REPORT | SAVANNAH STATE
The Savannah State women's basketball are ready to start the season.  
 
In December, the Lady Tigers released a schedule for the year that was set to begin on Jan. 9. A week later, the SIAC postponed winter sports until March, but in the same decision allowed member institutions the ability to play a non-conference schedule in February. The SIAC has yet to render a decision on whether there will be a conference schedule this year.
 
Last week, women's basketball released a new schedule of eight games. Although most are against SIAC opponents, none will count as conference games. The Lady Tigers are hoping to add at least three more games.
 
The Lady Tigers returned to campus on Jan. 14 and into a regular COVID-19 testing schedule and practice schedule. The 2021 Lady Tigers look very similar to last year's team who had no seniors.
 
During the 2019-20 season, the program's first back in Division II and the SIAC, they finished 15-8 and 10-7 in conference action—the best record for the program in the last six years. Their regular season conference mark earned them a first round bye in the 2020 SIAC Championship and the No. 2 seed. The Lady Tigers were upset by Tuskegee, 41-68, in the quarterfinals.
 
Of last year's starters, the Lady Tigers are returning three key players. Top guard Le'Andrea Gillis, who led the team in scoring, averaging 18.1 points, returns. Transfer guard Ta'Kyla Austin (14.6 p/g) is back as well. After an excellent first year at Savannah State, Austin was named the SIAC Newcomer of the year last year.
 
Freshman Amari Heard was named the SIAC Freshman of the Year, following an average of 9.0 points a game. Heard returns for her sophomore season that could see her shift into a starting role.
 
Savannah State did lose starters Robbi Allen and Alexus Bryant. Azhana Maxwell, who played well off the bench last year, might help fill one of those roles this semester. Maxwell averaged 14.6 points a game last season. Guard Joan Messina, who started 11 games last year, could be key competitor as well.
 
The Lady Tigers added several new faces to the team in the off season. Head Coach Cedric Baker, now into his 17th year at the helm, added six recruits to his roster over the summer, strengthening his post with several new forward position players including NCAA Division I transfer Bria Gibbs.
 
SCOUTING REPORT | BENEDICT COLLEGE
 
After Tuesday's cancellation, the Lady Tigers won't get to ease into the season. Instead, they are going to open the season against the ranked defending Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) champions, Benedict College.
 
The 4-0 BC Lady Tigers are currently the 24th best team in the nation according to the Women's Basketball Coaches Association Top 25 Poll. They returned all their starters from last year's championship team, including back-to-back two-time SIAC Player of the Year Ay'Anna Bey and All-Tournament selection Wykira Johnson-Kelly.  They also added transfers Keondra Archie and Shantel Cheeks. Archie moved from SIAC school Paine College and was named to the All-SIAC First Team last year.
 
The BC Lady Tigers opened the year with two wins over Miles College and then followed that with two wins over Allen University. Their last game was on Feb. 3. A Feb. 8 game against Kentucky State was postponed.

ABOUT SAVANNAH STATE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Women's basketball was the first and only women's sport at Savannah State for many years. The first team, the 1928-29 squad, opened the program's history with a 5-3 overall record and won the city championship. The storied program has won championships on the Division I and II levels and in three different conferences.
 
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Players Mentioned

Joan Messina

#1 Joan Messina

G
5' 3"
Junior
Robbi Allen

#5 Robbi Allen

G
5' 8"
Sophomore
Alexus Bryant

#33 Alexus Bryant

C
6' 4"
Sophomore
Azhana Maxwell

#2 Azhana Maxwell

G
5' 8"
Junior
Le

#10 Le'Andrea Gillis

G
5' 10"
Junior
Ta

#11 Ta'Kyla Austin

G
5' 7"
Redshirt Junior
Bria Gibbs

#22 Bria Gibbs

C
6' 0"
Junior
Amari Heard

#23 Amari Heard

G
6' 0"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Joan Messina

#1 Joan Messina

5' 3"
Junior
G
Robbi Allen

#5 Robbi Allen

5' 8"
Sophomore
G
Alexus Bryant

#33 Alexus Bryant

6' 4"
Sophomore
C
Azhana Maxwell

#2 Azhana Maxwell

5' 8"
Junior
G
Le

#10 Le'Andrea Gillis

5' 10"
Junior
G
Ta

#11 Ta'Kyla Austin

5' 7"
Redshirt Junior
G
Bria Gibbs

#22 Bria Gibbs

6' 0"
Junior
C
Amari Heard

#23 Amari Heard

6' 0"
Sophomore
G