FORT VALLEY, Ga.- Savannah State basketball fans in the Middle Georgia saw the Lady Tigers snap their two game losing skid in their 72-66 win over Fort Valley State on Saturday afternoon at the FVSU Health and Physical Education Complex.

Savannah State trailed by nine points in the third quarter but used a 11-0 run to go ahead by seven with under eight minutes left in the game and held on to down the Wildcats as they improved to 3-1 over all and 2-1 in league play.

LaGrange, Georgia native Jazmin Thornton led the way for SSU with 20 points, nine rebounds, three blocks and two steals.

In a game that had five ties and three lead changes, FVSU jumped out to a 7-1 lead but  Savannah State scored the next eight points to go in front 9-7. With the score knotted at nine, SSU closed the quarter with a 5-0 spurt for a 14-9 edge.

A free throw to open the second quarter gave SSU a six point advantage but Fort Valley State outscored the Lady Tigers 26-16 in the quarter and took a 35-30 lead into intermission.

With 7:43 remaining in the third quarter, the Wildcats built a 41-32 lead.

FVSU led 43-34 with just under six minutes left on the third quarter clock but a layup by Ansley Hicks started a 11-4 run that pulled Savannah State within 47-45 with 3:09 left in the quarter. 

The Wildcats held a 51-47 advantage before a 3-pointer by Jaliyah Harper with one second left on the clock cut SSU's deficit to 51-50.

The fourth quarter opened with Savannah State scoring the first eight points and going ahead 58-51 at the 7:47 mark. FVSU was able to fight back and tie the score at 60 with 4:15 left but a free throw by Thornton followed by a layup by Raven Birt, a tip in by Haylee Malcum and a jumper by Harper extended the Savannah State lead to 67-60.

FVSU, who is still looking for their first win, whittled the Savannah State led to four but a free throw from Anita Burnett and a lay up and a pair of  free throws by Sanai Chisholm made the score 72-63 with just seven seconds on the clock.

SSU, who edged the Wildcats in rebounds (46 to 44), scored 30 points off 28 Fort Valley State turnovers and scored 42 points in the paint. 

The Lady Tigers shot 54.6 percent from the field in the first quarter and ended the day shooting 46.6 percent from the floor.

Harper added 15 points, eight rebounds and three assists, Birt had 12 points and three steals and Malcum added 10 points and six rebounds before fouling out.

Hicks finished with six points and four steals, Chisholm had six points and six rebounds and Burnett chipped in three points and three steals.

Savannah State will return home to play Central State on December 4 at 5:30 p.m.

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