SAVANNAH, Ga.- Savannah State sent their senior class out with a victory as they finished their regular season with a 68-51 win over Fort Valley State in Tiger Arena on February 26, 2024.
 
The Lady Tigers held a slim 36-35 lead at the half and held FVSU scoreless for over six minutes in the third quarter as they built a nine-point advantage and never looked back.
 
It was the final regular season home game for eight SSU seniors: Mya Byrd, Jashiyah Jones, Jasmine Wills, Jacquece Alston, Diamond McGillberry, Nyla Allen, Amari Heard and Ta'Quasia Lampkin.
 
Savannah State opened the third quarter with nine unanswered points with a jumper from Allen, a layup by Heard, two free throws by Allen and a jumper by Alston to create a 44-35 advantage with just under six minutes remaining in the quarter.
 
The Lady Tigers went the final 3:20 of the quarter without a field goal but their lead never dipped below seven as they took a 48-39 advantage into the fourth quarter.
 
Jones hit back to back 3-pointers for SSU to start the fourth quarter. Jones' shots was followed by two free throws from Heard as Savannah State's lead grew to 56-39 with 8:17 remaining.
 
The Wildcats went the final four minutes without a field goal but used a 10-3 spurt to close their gap to ten with 2:51 left. SSU answered with back-to-back jumpers from Allen and Amani Hamilton and a 3-pointer by Allen to re-gain their 17-point cushion.
 
Heard led three Lady Tigers in double figures with 16 points. Allen scored 15 points and Jones was on her heels with 14 points. In addition, Heard had six rebounds, Allen dished out six assists and Jones made three 3-pointers and hit all five of her free throws.

With Lampkin in foul trouble, Ja'Siiyah Holmes came off the bench to contribute eight rebounds, seven points and four blocks. Alston kicked in five points while Hamilton scored four, Lampkin scored two and Aaliyah Carlock added one point.

Fort Valley State led by nine with less that two minutes left in the first quarter but two free twos and a 3-pointer by Jones and a layup by Heard trimmed Savannah State's deficit to 21-19 to end the first quarter.
 
The second quarter was back and forth for both teams and had seven ties.
 
The Wildcats led 35-34 with 44 seconds left but a free throw by Alston tied the game at 35 with 22 seconds showing and a free throw by Carlock gave SSU a one point advantage as they went into intermission.
 
Winner of eight of their last nine games, Savannah State ends the regular season as Eastern Division Champions with a 19-5 overall record and a 15-4 SIAC record as they prepare for the conference tournament which will be held in Savannah on March 3-10.
 
SSU shot 45.1 percent from the floor as they beat the Wildcats on the boards 35 to 29.
 
Fort Valley State (14-10, 12-7 SIAC) was led by Ayana Cockrell's game-high 21 points.