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Savannah State University Athletics

1
64
Fort Valley State University FVSUW 5-25
91
Winner Savannah State Univ. SSUW 22-4
Fort Valley State University FVSUW
5-25
64
Final
91
Savannah State Univ. SSUW
22-4
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Fort Valley State University FVSUW 17 18 20 9 64
Savannah State Univ. SSUW 21 31 18 21 91

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

No. 12 Lady Tigers Cruise Past Fort Valley To Semifinals

ROCK HILL, S.C. –Savannah State women's basketball picked up their 26th win of the season on Wednesday with a 91-64 rout of Fort Valley State in a quarterfinal game of 2022 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Championship Tournament.
 
The Lady Tigers, the No. 1 seed out of the SIAC East Division, improved to 26-1 with the win and advanced to the semifinals of the tournament. On Friday, they will face the winner of a quarterfinal game on Thursday between Albany State (3E) and Lane College (2W).
 
In a pregame ceremony, Savannah State was honored for their regular season accomplishments. Bria Gibbs picked up a trophy for being named to the All-SIAC First Team, as did Le'Andrea Gills who was named to the All-SIAC Second Team.
 
Head Coach Cedric Baker was honored for being named the 2022 SIAC Women's Basketball Head Coach of the Year and the entire team hoisted a trophy honoring their 2022 SIAC East Division Championship. 


 
In their third game this season against Fort Valley State, the Lady Tigers opened with their usual offensive barrage. Gillis dropped a three-pointer eight seconds into the game and then another one a minute later to push her team out to an early 6-2 lead.
 
Gillis dropped another long-ball at the 7:09 mark of the opening quarter, to break a 6-6 tie. Then Mia Goolsby planted her own three-pointer and the Lady Tigers started to pull away. But Fort Valley battled, holding the score close in the opening quarter.
 
Savannah State led 21-17 after the first 10 minutes. The Lady Tigers have never trailed in any of their 27 games this season after the first quarter.
 
"Coming into the game, I knew it would be an emotional one," Baker said in a post-game press conference. "We've played Fort Valley twice during the regular season. Coming into the game, my message to the team was just, emotionally, regulate it. Don't get too high. Don't get too low."
 
Savannah State broke away in the second period, putting up 31 points to lead 52-35 into the locker room. Fort Valley fought hard in the third quarter, outscoring the Lady Tigers 20-18. But a dismal fourth quarter for the Wildcats sealed the loss as the Lady Tigers outscored them 21-9 for the final 27-point spread.
 
As Baker and the Lady Tigers head into the semifinals, a place he's been several times having coached a number of championship teams, he reflected on how different this year's team was compared with past teams.
 
"What separates this team is, we have explosive offense, both the starting five and coming off the bench," Baker said. "We have quality depth. That's what separates this team from other championship teams that I've had the opportunity and privilege to coach."
 
Five Lady Tigers finished in double figures on Wednesday. Gillis led with 14 points followed by Shekinah Howard (13), Ta'Kyla Austin (12), Nyla Allen (12) and Ta'Quasia Lampkin (11).
 
Savannah State women's basketball finished an historic regular season last Thursday in Tiger Arena with their 25th win of the season, tying the school record for most regular season wins with the 1977-1978 squad. They opened the season 14-0, setting a new school record for most consecutive wins to start a season.

Savannah State's only loss this season came against reigning SIAC Champions Benedict College. They later beat Benedict in the team's second meeting of the season.

The Lady Tigers are ranked No. 12 in the WBCA Coaches Poll, No. 24 in the D2SIDA Media Poll and No. 6 in the NCAA Division II South Region poll—all three are the highest rankings earned in program history.
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