SAVANNAH, Ga.- Savannah State raced out to a 14-5 lead against Tuskegee and never looked back as the Lady Tigers improved their overall record to 4-3 with a 60-51 victory over Tuskegee in a game played in Tiger Arena on December 16, 2023.
 
It was revenge for SSU, who lost to Tuskegee, the 2023 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament champions, last season, 72-68 least season in Alabama.
 
Savannah State led in the contest from start to finish.
 
The Lady Tigers scored 18 points off of 23 Tuskegee turnovers and had more bench points (20 to 12), points in the paint (32 to 20), second chance points (14 to 4) and fast break points (10-2).
 
Holding a three-point lead, with just under three minutes remaining in the first quarter, SSU received a jumper from Ta'Quasia Lampkin, a layup from Nyla Allen and a 3-pointer from Jashiyah Jones to build a 14-5 cushion. 
 
Savannah State led 14-8 after the first quarter.
 
Tuskegee scored just four points in the second quarter and committed nine turnovers while Savannah State scored 22 points, shooting 60 percent from the field and knocking down two of their three 3-point attempts.
 
SSU started the quarter with an 8-0 run to expand their lead to 15 (23-8). Following a layup by Tuskegee's Cynaye Bobbitt, Savannah State then answered with 11 straight points to go ahead 34-10 with 1:17 left in the quarter, for their largest lead of the game.
 
Savannah State led 36-12 at the half.
 
The teams traded baskets for much of the third quarter which allowed Tuskegee to whittle their deficit down to 18 but SSU responded with a free throw by Lampkin, a 3-pointer by Jones and a jumper by Mya Byrd to push the Savannah State lead back to 24 (51-27) late in the quarter. The Lady Tigers led 51-30 after three quarters of play.
 
A pair of free throws by Talia Hamilton gave SSU a 53-30 lead to open the fourth quarter but Tuskegee used a 20-3 run to get within 58-43 with 4:07 left.
 
A jumper by Allen put Savannah State back on to by 17 with 4 minutes left but Tuskegee was not done as they closed the game with nine unanswered points to make the score look respectable.
 
Allen had a game-high 16 points and four assists for Savannah State while Lampkin pulled down a game-high 14 rebounds to go with her eight points, three steals and two blocks. Jones connected on three 3-pointers and finished the day with 11 points for the Lady Tigers.
 
Playing through pain and injury, Amari Heard chipped in seven points, seven rebounds and three assists for SSU. Byrd also scored seven points. Talia Hamilton had four points and Amani Hamilton had three points while Jacquece Alston and Aniaya Donaldson scored two points apiece.
 
Arielle McElroy had 14 points for Tuskegee (5-3, 2-2 SIAC).
 
Savannah State (4-3, 2-2 SIAC) will look to close the 2023 portion of their schedule with a victory against Spring Hill on Dec. 18 at 5:30 p.m.in Tiger Arena.