SAVANNAH, Ga.- Heading into the 2025-26 season, Savannah State University women's basketball coach Phillip Wallace Jr. will look to restore the Lady Tigers program back to glory.

It will be Wallace's second tenure as head of the women's program, having coached SSU to 105 wins in five seasons from 1990-95.

Since his leaving, Savannah State has went through five head coaches, including one of his former players (Anita Walsh).

When Cedric Baker left to take the head job at South Carolina State, after 22 seasons and 262 wins at SSU, Wallace, who also turned around programs like Morris Brown and Miles and had spent the past few years working on the administrative side as Athletics Director at Allen and Associate Athletic Director for Operations, saw an opportunity to return home.

While at a SSU Basketball Coaches Meet & Greet at the Savannah State Student Union Building on Tuesday afternoon, Wallace was asked what was it like to be back at Savannah State.

"Back in 2013, my mother asked me would I consider coming back home and I said, yes but under the right circumstances."

Wallace takes over a team that won a dozen games a year ago and advanced to the quarterfinals of the SIAC Tournament, despite being riddled with injuries. SSU was picked to finish fourth in the SIAC East.

With only one senior on the roster, Wallace still plans to produce a winner.

"We won't make any excuses. Our goal is to win and make the top four in the conference and then play for a championship."

Wallace, who earned his undergraduate and master's degrees from SSU, added that his expectations are lofty.

"Our confidence level is high. The players have adapted well to the new system. the changing of mindset and culture will lead to wins."

Sophomores Jayden Boykin and Jazmin Thorton are the top two returnees from last year. Boykin averaged 6.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game while Thornton contributed 6.3 points and 4.1 rebounds.

Thornton was the lone Lady Tiger to play in all 27 games a year ago. When asked what did she attribute that to she she replied "staying healthy."

The 6-foot post player from LaGrange, Georgia added that she and her teammates are buying into Wallace's system and they expect to win.

"We all came in with an open mind and we trust the process. We always expect to win and be a better team than last year."

Other veterans include senior Jaliyah Harper, junior Raven Birt and sophomores Ansley Hicks and Sanai Chisholm.

Sophomore Alayah Birch averaged 12.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.4 steals last season and was named to the SIAC preseason all conference team but suffered a season ending injury during the preseason.

Despite being hired just a few weeks before the start of fall classes, Wallace was able to add some new players to the roster.

6'1" post player Haylee Malcum joins the squad from Trinity Valley Community College while Makaila Johnson, Anita Burnett and Kira Williams all bring experience from the high school ranks.

Assisting Wallace will be Jackie Britt, who was also Wallace's assistant for three years while he was at Miles. Britt has also served as an assistant coach at Talladega and on the high school level.

Savannah State will kick off the season at home with a exhibition game against Barber-Scotia on November 15 at 1 p.m. and the regular season hosting Trinity College on Nov. 17 at 7 p.m.

Stay Connected
For complete coverage of Savannah State University Athletics, follow the Tigers on social media @SavStateTigers on Facebook, Instagram, and X (Formerly Known As Twitter), or visit the official online home of SSU Athletics at http://ssuathletics.com.