TUSKEGEE, Ala. | The Tuskegee University women's basketball program had their chances to pull off an upset of West Division-leading Kentucky State University, but the basket was unkind over the final 55 seconds as the Tigerettes fell 57-54 in Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) action Monday night.
 
After trailing for much of the first half thanks in part to a 15-0 run by the Thorobrettes, but they battled back to tie the game in the fourth quarter on an Aryana Jackson three-pointer with 6:35 to play to tie the game at 49-all.
 
Kentucky State was able to push the lead back to four at 54-50 with 4:34 to play in the game, before a free throw by Rachel Brownlee and a three from Jackson tied the game at 54-all with 4:05 to play.
 
Over the final four minutes, neither team was able to connect on a basket with Tuskegee having the best change with 55 seconds remaining when three lay-ups bounced off the rim and into the hands of Kentucky State. The Thorobrettes were able to hit two free throws with 19 seconds remaining to ice the game.
 
Brownlee and Jackson combined for 42 of the points for Tuskegee (1-13, 0-6 SIAC), with Brownlee scoring 22 and Jackson 20 in the loss. Uche Ibebujo finished the night with six points and 15 rebounds for the Tigerettes, who shot 27.5 (19-of-69) percent from the floor and 27.8 (5-of-18) percent beyond the arc.
 
Tuskegee won the rebounding battle 54-45, while forcing 16 turnovers.
 
Kentucky State (12-3, 7-2 SIAC) was led by Taylor Sanders with 14, while Jamesha Murphy added 10. Shaia Horton added 11 rebounds in the win for the Thorobrettes.
 
Tuskegee returns to action Thursday night against Lane at Chappie James Arena, with tip set for 5:30 pm.
 
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