SAVANNAH, Ga.- Savannah State improved to 4-1 overall and 3-1 in the SIAC following their 63-53 victory over Central State in the conference home opener on Thursday evening in Tiger Arena.

Jayden Boykin came off the bench to lead all scorers with 18 points. The sophomore from Franklin, Georgia added eight rebounds, two steals, one block and one assist.

SSU held a 7-4 lead in the opening quarter but a jumper by Jaliyah Harper and two free throws by Jazmin Thornton increased the Lady Tigers lead to 11-4. Savannah State led  17-12 after the first eight minutes of play.

Central State was able to take a 21-19 lead with 6:23 remaining in the second quarter but a jumper by Harper tied the game at 21. With the score knotted at 23, the Lady Tigers finished the half with a pair of free throws and a 3-pointer from Sanai Chisholm to go ahead by five as they took a 28-23 advantage into the half.

The Marauders trimmed the SSU lead to two early in the third quarter but Savannah State answered with eight straight points as Haylee Malcum made a layup and Thornton added a layup and two jumpers for a 37-27 lead with just over five minutes left. Savannah State led by as many as a dozen in the third quarter and took a 46-34 edge into the final quarter.

Savannah State's lead evaporated to 51-46 with 5:01 showing on the clock but scored the next seven points with a layup from Chisholm and a layup, free throw and another layup by Boykin to push their lead to 58-46 at the 3:06 mark.

Central State was able to get as close as eight down the stretch.

The Lady Tigers scored 22 points off turnovers, received 22 points from their reserves and scored 34 points in the paint.

Thornton fouled out of the game but not before she contributed 16 points, five rebounds, three steals and three blocks. Chisholm added 15 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals.

SSU will host Kentucky State on December 6 at 2 p.m.

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