TUSKEGEE, Ala. | The Tuskegee University women's basketball team opens the New Year with a four-game home stand, beginning Monday afternoon when they host a battle of Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) division leaders.
Tuskegee (5-5, 1-0 SIAC), who has been off since December 14 when they opened the conference play with a two-point overtime victory ove Clark Atlanta on the road, faces Claflin (8-5, 3-0 SIAC) will tip at 1:00 pm (cst) at Chappie James Arena. The game was originally scheduled to be played at 5:30 pm (cst), however, it was moved up in the day due to the holiday.
This will be the first meeting between the two schools, however, it is not the first time they have been in the same arena this season as both teams played in the Regional Challenge hosted by Tuskegee the first weekend of the season. In that tournament, both teams finished 1-1 with both teams dropping their contest to North Alabama.
Senior
Rachel Brownlee leads Tuskegee in all three major categories this season, including averaging 19.2 points per game through the first 10 games of the season. The Preseason SIAC Player of the Year has also scored in double figures in 35 consecutive games (including two exhibition games) dating back to last season, and scored in her 1,000th career point in the Tigerettes' last home game against Lynn back on November 22.
Brownlee also leads the team in rebounding, averaging 6.6 rebounds per game, and is just 46 rebounds away from 500 career rebounds in her three-plus years at Tuskegee. The senior also leads Tuskegee in assists with 2.6 assists per game.
Freshman
Taylor Miller is also in double figures this season, averaging 11.6 points per game, and has scored in double figures in eight of the 10 games this season. The freshman is also one of the leaders in three-point field goals attempted in the conference, putting up 68 shots from beyond the arc. On the season, Miller is shooting 30.9 (21-of-68) percent from beyond the arc on the year.
In their last contest, Tuskegee claimed a 74-72 overtime victory - their third of the season - behind a pair of three-pointers from
Jalynn Estrada in the final 30 seconds on the road back on December 14. The freshman finished with 11 points and connected on a three-pointer with 0.2 seconds remaining in the contest, helping her to earn SIAC Newcomer of the Week honors. The game was put away by the team's other point guard,
Asha Stegall, who hit a short jumper with just 11 seconds remaining in overtime.
The Tigerettes have matched their win total from last season, and look to rebound from last season's 44-38 loss to Claflin on the road the first week in January on Monday afternoon. The game will be carried on the Tuskegee Digital Network, beginning with the tip at 1:00 pm (no audio).
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