Tuskegee, AL - The Tuskegee women's basketball team move to 9-8, (5-3 SIAC) with a 77-68 victory over Miles College on Saturday afternoon at Chappie James Arena. Ashiala Jackson led her team to their second win in a row, and handed Miles College (9-5, 5-2 SIAC) their second conference loss.
Three players scored in double-figures for the Golden Tigers, who have now a 6-2 record at home. Junior forward Ashiala Jackson recorded her second double-double of the season with 14 points and a season-high 10 rebounds in the win, going 7-for-9 from the floor. Junior India Blakely also added 13 points, while Normesha Pitts finished in double-figures with 10 points as well for the Golden Tigers.
Miles College forward Sakina Wynn led all scorers with 21 points while Victoria Sutton added 10 points for the visitors.
Both teams got off to a slow start on Saturday, combining for just 13 points through the first five minutes of action. Both offenses came alive late in the quarter, with Miles taking an 19-18 lead after the 10 minutes of action.
Tuskegee seized momentum into the second quarter, taking the lead. The Golden Bears battled for the lead until midway through the quarter, as Normesha Pitts scored a three pointer off an assist from sophomore Breanna Stephens.
Miles powered Tuskegee's paint presence in the first half, going 3-for-4 from the floor. The Golden Tigers outscored the Terriers in the paint, 24-8, in the first half and 40-24 overall on the day.
While Jackson got the Golden Tigers going inside, Pitts made her presence felt off the bench, connecting on her first two attempts from beyond the arc and finishing the game 2-for-4 from three-point range. Lena Yoonis added nine points and two blocks while finishing while 10 points for her third consecutive game scoring in double-figures.
Tuskegee led by three at the half, but had to withstand a strong second-half performance by Miles. The Golden Bears were able to take the lead midway through the third quarter but could not gain a bigger lead than three after a pair of free throws by Najla Shamsid-Deen with 3:30 remaining in the quarter.
Shamsid-Deen and Wynn helped put the Miles in the lead, scoring Miles' final eight points of the quarter to give Miles a two-point lead heading into the fourth.
Tuskegee out-rebounded Miles College, 46-39, on the day. The Golden Tigers upped the defensive pressure as well and scored 17 points off of 18 Bears turnovers.
The Golden Tigers continue their homestand on Monday, hosting LeMoyne-Owen College at 5:30 p.m. CST on Monday, January 20. The matchup against the Magicians (7-7, 4-4 SIAC), will be broadcast live on the Tuskegee Digital Network and is the first game in a double-header with the Tuskegee men's basketball team, who host LeMoyne-Owen men's basketball team at 7:30 p.m. CST. LeMoyne Owens and Tuskegee last played February 2019, an 82-73, defeat for the Golden Tigers in the at Chappie James.
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