SAVANNAH, Ga.- Savannah State led Fort Valley State by five points after three quarters of play but could not hold on as they were outscored 13-4 in the fourth quarter in a 46-42 loss to the Wildcats on Monday evening in Tiger Arena.

A Mya Byrd layup gave SSU a 42-38 lead with 4:26remaining in the fourth quarter but the Wildcats finished the game with eight unanswered points to get the win.

The Lady Tigers made just two of 13 shots from the field in the final quarter and missed all six 3-point attempts.

In a game that had four ties and five lead changes, freshman Jayden Boykin had her first double-double of her career with 15 rebounds and 13 points.

FVSU scored the first eight points of the contest and held the Lady Tigers off the scoreboard until Byrd hit a 3-pointer at the 6:32 mark.

Byrd's shot started a 10-0 run by SSU which put them in front with 3:49 showing on the clock.

Savannah State took a 14-12 lead into the second quarter which turned into a 23-18 halftime advantage.

A early third quarter layup by Raven Birt put SSU ahead 25-18 but the Wildcats (10-15, 6-12 SIAC) rallied to tie the game at 29 with 3:40 on the clock.

A pair of free throws by Myasia Jones and a jumper by Jazmin Thornton put Savannah State ahead by four and following a FVSU basket, back-to-back layups by Thornton and Boykin gave the Orange & Blue a 37-31 advantage with 1:31 showing.

Fort Valley State scored the first points of the fourth quarter to get to within three but a layup by Jones made the score 40-35.

The Wildcats would pull within two again before Byrd would make a layup for SSU's final points on the night.

Byrd finished the game with eight points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals while Birt added seven points.

Thornton had six points, Jones chipped in four while Jaliyah Harper and Ansley Hicks scored two apiece.

Savannah State (11-13, 7-11 SIAC) will close out the regular season at Tiger Arena on February 26 against Albany State, in hopes of stopping their four game losing skid. Tip off is at 5:30 p.m.

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