SAVANNAH, Ga.- Savannah State started the season with back-to-back conference setbacks to Kentucky State and Central State but that changed on Saturday afternoon following their 60-55 win over LeMoyne-Owen in Tiger Arena.

Amani Hamilton led the charge with 21 points and 11 rebounds while Alayah Birch, the SIAC Newcomer of the Week, came off the bench to add 12 points, five rebounds and three steals.

The win gives SSU a 5-4 overall record and 1-2 conference mark. It also improved their home record to 3-0.

Savannah State held a 13-8 lead at the conclusion of the first quarter and a 11-4 spurt to start the second quarter gave them a 24-12 edge with 5;21 left in the first half.

The Magicians were able to trim their deficit to 24-20 with just over two minutes remaining but SSU took a 26-21 advantage into intermission.

LeMoyne-Owen opened the third quarter with a 3-pointer to get within two but the Lady Tigers responded with a 20-5 run to increase their lead to 46-29 at the 1:12 mark. Seven SSU players scored during the run with Birch netting five points and Kyla Hankerson adding four.

Back-to-back layups by Hamilton and Jazmin Thornton gave Savannah State a 52-31 cushion to start the fourth quarter.

The Lady Tigers lead remained in double digits until LeMoyne-Owen made it a 55-47 affair with 2:36 remaining.

The visitors from Memphis, Tennessee closed their gap to 59-55 with nine seconds left but SSU held on for the win.

As a team, Savannah State shot 69.2 percent from the field in the third quarter but only 31.3 percent for the game.

The Lady Tigers won the rebounding battle 51 to 46 and had more second chance points (15-8), points in the paint (32-26) and fast break points (12-7).

Thornton and Mya Byrd added seven points each for SSU. K'lya Hankerson scored six, Kayla Grant chipped in four and Jayden Boykin had three points.

Savannah State will be back in action December 16th to take on Lane at 5:30 p.m inside Tiger Arena.

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