FORT VALLEY, Ga.- Savannah State snapped their four game losing skid with a 68-59 win over Fort Valley State on Monday evening.

It was the Lady Tigers first win since a 80-74 win over Lane on December 16, 2024 and their first road win of the season in eight tries.

Savannah State used their defense to limit the Wildcats to four points in the first quarter while in the fourth quarter the SSU offense scored 23 points, shooting 46.7 percent from the floor while making 8 of 9 attempts from the free throw line.

SSU opened the game with back-to-back 3-pointers from Alayah Birch and Mya Byrd to take a 6-0 lead. Fort Valley State was held scoreless until the 3:54 mark of the first quarter. Leading 6-4, the Lady Tigers ended the quarter with a 3-pointer by Byrd, a layup by Amani Hamilton and a free throw by Birch for a 12-4 advantage.

Byrd opened the second quarter with another 3-pointer as SSU stretched their lead to 11 points. The Wildcats rallied to trim their deficit to three before Hamilton made a layup with 52 seconds left to send the teams into intermission with Savannah State holding a 25-20 edge.

After a basket by FVSU to start the third quarter, the Lady Tigers answered with a layup and a free throw by Byrd and a layup by Hamilton to extended their lead to 30-22 with 6:25 left in the quarter. A 9-0 run by Fort Valley State allowed the Wildcats to take a 31-30 lead with 3:23 left in the third quarter but SSU ended the quarter scoring six of the final seven points to take a 36-32 lead into the fourth quarter.

FVSU scored first in the fourth quarter to get within two but a Savannah State answered with a 11-2 run to take command of the game with 5:32 left with a score of 47-36. The Wildcats cut SSU's lead to five with a minute and a half left but the Lady Tigers scored the final six points of the contest getting a jumper from Hamilton, a free throw from Birch and a layup and a free throw by Hamilton.

Since rejoining the SIAC, Savannah State has dominated the series with Fort Valley State, winning 11 of their 12 contests.

SSU out-rebounded the Wildcats 30-26 and forced FVSU to make 32 turnovers.

Hamilton led the way for Savannah State with her fifth double-double of the season as she scored 20 points and pulled down 11 rebounds. The 6'1" Savannah native also had five steals and two assists. Byrd added 16 points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals while Birch chipped in 13 points, four assists and three rebounds. Jazmin Thornton added six points, four rebounds and two steals and Jayden Boykin had four points and five rebounds.

Savannah State, who improved to 7-8 overall and 3-6 in conference play, will return home to face Clark Atlanta on January 18 at 2 p.m. in Tiger Arena.

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