FORT VALLEY, Ga.- With the score knotted at 57 with 1:32 remaining, Savannah State University finished the game with a 10-2 run as they defeated Fort Valley State University 66-59 in a game played at the FVSU Health and Physical Education Complex on January 13, 2024.
 
During the final 92 seconds, SSU broke the tie game on Ta'Quasia Lampkin's layup which was followed by a layup by Amari Heard and a free throw by Mya Byrd for a 62-57 edge.
 
After a jumper by FVSU's Shekinah Rachel made the score 62-59 with 17 seconds left, Savanna State put the Wildcats away with a free throw from Nyla Allen  and a free throw and short jumper by Heard inside the paint.
 
The win improved SSU to 9-3 overall and 6-2 in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
 
The game had two ties and three lead changes with Fort Valley State holding a 12 point cushion at intermission.
 
SSU didn't get off to a great start in the game. For the first five and a half minutes of the game, SSU made five turnovers, missed four shots from the field and missed three free throws as the Wildcats got off to a 9-0 lead.
 
With 5:17 remaining in the first quarter Byrd nailed a 3-pointer for Savannah State's first points of the game.
 
FVSU led 16-5 with 2:50 left but a layup and a jumper by Heard to close the quarter cut Savannah State's deficit to 16-9.
 
The Wildcats increased their advantage to 22-9 early in the second quarter and led by as many as 14 with 3:51 showing on the clock.
 
Down 32-18 with just over a minute left, Lampkin hit a jumper in the paint for the final points of the half. The teams went into the locker room with FVSU leading 32-20.
 
Savannah State started the third quarter with a 10-1 spurt to pull within three at 33-30 with 5:38 left. During the run, the Lady Tigers received scoring from three different players with Lampkin hitting a free throw and a layup, Allen making a jumper, Byrd making a layup and Jashiyah Jones connecting on a 3-pointer.
 
Fort Valley State responded and went ahead by nine but the Lady Tigers finished the quarter with a layup and two free throws by Byrd and a pair of layups from Heard to whittle their deficit to 43-42 as they entered the fourth quarter.
 
The Wildcats led by as many as five early in the final quarter but Savannah State battled back and tied the game at 52 with 4:52 left after a layup by Heard.
 
FVSU went ahead by three but back-to-back jumpers by Heard and Byrd put Savannah State in from 56-55 at the 3:20 mark.
 
The Wildcats went back on top 57-56 but a free throw by Byrd with 1:32 remaining tied the game at 57.
 
Heard lead Savannah State with 23 points and eight rebounds while Byrd added 16 points and eight assists.
 
Lampkin had her third consecutive and fourth double-double of the season with 13 points and 13 rebounds while Jones came off the bench to contribute 11 points and five rebounds. Allen chipped in three points, four rebounds and five assists.
 
The Lady Tigers had 19 points off 19 FVSU turnovers and had 13 fast break points and 42 points in the paint.
 
After making just eight field goals in the first half, Savannah State shot 50 percent from the floor in the third quarter and 67 percent in the fourth quarter.
 
Fort Valley State (5-7, 4-4 SIAC) was led by Rachel's 28 points and 12 rebounds.
 
Savannah State will go after their seventh win in a row on Jan. 15 when they travel to Albany State University for a 2 p.m. tip-off.