ALBANY, Ga.- Savannah State University extended their winning streak to seven games in a row, following a 66-59 road win over Albany State University. The contest took place on January 15, 2024 in the Jones Brothers HPER Complex.
 
The win improved SSU's overall record to 10-3 and Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference record to 7-2.
 
Savannah State trailed the Rams 27-19 at the half but outscored the Southwest Georgia based institution 21-8 in the third quarter.
 
The Lady Tigers led by four with 6:25 left in the game but then scored eight unanswered points, getting a 3-pointer from Nyla Allen, a jumper from Ta'Quasia Lampkin and a 3-pointer by Mya Byrd to grab their largest lead of the game at 53-41 at the 4:41 mark.
 
The rest of the way, Savannah State's only score came from a free throw by Amari Heard with 25 seconds left. During the final 5:25, Albany State had three turnovers and missed four free throws, two 3-point attempts, layups and three jumpers.
 
Heard led all scorers with 20 points, nine rebounds and four steals while Allen 16 points.
 
Lampkin just missed her fourth straight double-double and finished the game with 14 rebounds, nine points and three blocks. Byrd, who hails from Ashburn, Georgia added nine points and six assists.
 
Savannah State found themselves down 16-4 with 4:33 left in the opening quarter and trailed 18-8 entering the second quarter.
 
Trailing 20-8 early in the second quarter, SSU received a free throw from Lampkin, a jumper from Heard and back-to-back jumpers from Allen to close their gap to 20-15 with 6:19 showing.
 
The Lady Tigers were down 22-17 with two and a half minutes remaining but could not get any closer as Albany State went into intermission with a 27-19 edge.
 
A 11-2 run to start the third quarter put Savannah State in front 30-29 with 5:42 left, following a jumper by Heard.
 
After the Rams regained the lead 31-30, SSU answered with eight unanswered points for a 38-31 lead with just over two minutes remaining in the third quarter.
 
Savannah State carried a 40-35 advantage into the final quarter of play and never let the Rams get any closer than three the rest of the way.
 
The SSU offense exploded in the second half. The Lady Tigers made 60 percent of their shots from the floor in the third quarter and 50 percent in the fourth quarter.
 
Aniaya Donaldson, a freshman on the SSU roster from Albany, saw action in the contest but did not score.
 
Albany State (2-16, 2-7 SIAC) out-rebounded SSU 43 to 38 but the Lady Tigers scored 13 points off 16 ASU turnovers and out-scored the Rams on fast break points, 11 to 4.
 
Elisa Saffold had 15 points for the Rams.
 
Savannah State will return to action on January 22 when they host Clark Atlanta University in Tiger Arena at 5:30 p.m.