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Savannah State University Athletics

1
Photo by Sarah Peacock
71
Winner Benedict College BCW 24-6
69
Savannah State Univ. SSUW 27-2
Winner
Benedict College BCW
24-6
71
Final
69
Savannah State Univ. SSUW
27-2
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Benedict College BCW 16 10 20 25 71
Savannah State Univ. SSUW 12 24 17 16 69

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

No. 12 Lady Tigers Fall To Benedict In Championship Game

ROCK HILL, S.C. – Savannah State left it all, blood, sweat and tears, on the floor at Saturday's Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Championship game.

Following an incredible season, one of the best in program history, the Lady Tigers were edged out by Benedict in the final minutes, finishing runner-up to the only team this season who has beat them.

At 27-2 overall, Savannah State tied the school record for most wins in a season. But the season isn't over. The ranked Lady Tigers have a good chance of earning an at-large bid to the 2022 NCAA Division II Championship Tournament when selection Sunday happens on March 13.

The Lady Tigers 14-0 start to the season set a new school record for most consecutive wins to open a season. Until Saturday, they were on track to match that record coming into the game on a 13-0 streak.

Savannah State led Benedict 63-57 with 6:03 to play in the fourth quarter, following a rough start to the game.

Shanassia White dripped in a layup for Benedict. Several turnovers, steals and missed free-throws dotted the next minute of play. Then Benedict found some momentum after Keondra Archie dropped a two-pointer followed by two more good field goals to tie the game at 63 all with 3:11 to play.

Ay'Anna Bey hit a jump shot with 2:29 showing to give Benedict their first lead of the second half. Ta'Quasia Lampkin answered a minute later with a short jumper in the paint to get Savannah State within a point of Benedict's lead, 65-66, with 1:18 to play. Lampkin again dropped a floater to tie the game at 67 all with 45 seconds ticking away.

But Benedict answered quickly to regain the lead and put away two good free-throws with three seconds showing on the clock giving Benedict a 71-67 lead. Amari Heard dropped a buzzer-beating field goal to end the game, but it wasn't enough.

"Great basketball game between two great programs," Head Coach Cedric Baker said in a post-game press conference. "Of course, Benedict is a championship program and we want to get to that point. Congratulations to Benedict."

In a rare showing, Savannah State struggled to score in the opening quarter. All season, the Lady Tigers overwhelmed their opponents with a high-scoring opening half. They've been averaging over 80 points a game this season and outscoring their opponents by a 21 point margin.

Bey dropped a layup for Benedict at the 8:24 mark, sparking a 7-0 run for the reigning SIAC Champions to open the game. Savannah State struggled to get perimeter shots to drop through the opening quarter, a typical engine starter for the team's offensive effort.

They did get the offense moving in the second period, taking the lead and outscoring Benedict 24-10 to lead 36-26 at the half. But similar to their only other loss of the season, Benedict owned the final minutes of the game.

Lampkin and Heard led the Lady Tigers with 14 points each. Ta'Kyla Austin put away 11 while Gibbs and Allen scored 10 each.

"We typically shoot the ball extremely well from the perimeter," Baker continued. "It didn't work in our favor tonight. It was a great season. Credit to my ladies. I thought they fought hard there when we got down at the end. Came up a little short today."

Saturday's game is the second appearance for an NCAA Division II Savannah State women's basketball team in the SIAC Championship game. The 1992-1993 team ventured as far as the finals, but lost to Fort Valley State.

Savannah State women's basketball has never won an SIAC Division II Championship. The program first competed within the SIAC from 1974 to 2000. From 1974 to 1981 they competed as an NCAA Division III team and then a NCAA Division II team from 1981-2005.

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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