After seizing early control of Monday afternoon's game against Albany State (6-3; 1-1 in SIAC), the Tuskegee Tigerettes improved their overall record to 5-5 with winning their first SIAC contest of the season by a score of 59-55, after rallying by as many as nine points down late in the second half.  After shooting just six-for-21 in the opening half, TU shot 42 percent from the field in the second half, while ASU shot a steady 34 percent for the entire game.  The victory gives Tarsha Askew's team their fifth win in the last six games, providing a positive uptick as the beginning of conference play conmmences.

After splitting two games in Georgia during the Stair South Classic over the Christmas holiday, Askew said that the slow shooting first half could be attributed to rust from not playing since mid-December.

"After the long layoff, it's been over two weeks since we last played," Askew said.  "So, I was glad that we were able to stay in the game at halftime, in spite of having some of the main contributors in foul trouble.  We were able to keep it close, and that's what I kept saying.  As long as we were able to keep it close, I knew that we could probably push it out in the end."

Marie McAbee finished with a double-double, as she had a game-high 16 points to go with ten rebounds.  She also was one of four TU players to have a couple of steals and also contributed two assists and a block.  Both McAbee and Chelsea Azore would foul out late in the game, but not before Azore finished with seven points and five rebounds on 50 percent shooting from the field.

"Both of them didn't play much the first 20 minutes of the game," Askew said.  "They both had two fouls, and picked them up early.  But, after the half, I told them that they could relax and play...in the second half.  So, they were able to do that and help us tremendously."

Tuskegee would get their first lead of the second half with just over seven minutes remaining, when Demetries McNealey scored her only basket of the night on an open three-pointer.  Albany would retake the lead on a fastbreak layup by Amber McKenzie (who tied McAbee's game-high with 16 points), but TU would hold it for good when Kajuanna Rivers found McAbee on a jumper inside.  Rivers would then score on two fastbreak plays to stretch out the lead in the final minutes, as she finished with eight points, four assists and two steals, with all of her scoring done in the second half.

As Rivers struggled early, Askew made the decision to sit her during the latter portion of the first half to conserve energy.

"I've learned from these few games to give her rest in the first half, and she'll be able to go the entire second half," Askew said.  "It depends on the bench if they can kind of hold and maintain, but they've done a great job of doing that."

The Tigerettes will be back on the road Thursday, beginning a two-game road trip in Fort Valley, GA against the Lady Wildcats.  Fort Valley State has also undertaken a recent coaching change, as Erica Henry took over for long-standing coach Lonnie Bartley in the offseason.

As for Tuskegee's recent efforts, Askew likes what she sees.

"I think today was like a mental game, because we were sluggish coming off of that long layoff," Askew said.  "So, hopefully Thursday, we can get back on track and pick back up where we left off."

Alannah Vincent had nine points, to go with six rebounds and three steals Monday.  The three steals were a game-high, while points and rebounds were second on the team only to McAbee.