ALBANY, Ga. – Tuskegee women's basketball (2-1, 0-0 SIAC) fell to Albany State in a rare non-conference meeting by a score of 68-60, inside of the HPER Complex on Tuesday afternoon, their first loss of the season.

Tuskegee got off to a slow start, trailing 6-0 to start the contest, before tying the game and later taking a 9-8 lead on a three from Brittney Bolin (Trophy Club, Texas) at the 5:44 mark in the first. The two programs battled back and forth for the lead for the remainder of the frame, ending with a 20-20 tie after an Albany State score to end the first.
 
The Golden Rams began the second with six unanswered within the first three minutes before a response from Tuskegee by Ashiala Jackson (Merrillville, Ind.) to end the scoring drought, however the Golden Tigers could not regain the lead, heading into the half trailing 31-28.
 
After a three-point play from Albany State early in the third, Jackson and Nadia Thorman-Mckey (Evanston, Ill.) sparked an 8-2 run to tie the game at 36-36, with the teams tying four more total times in the quarter.
 
Tuskegee gained a 47-43 lead after a free throw from JuToreyia Willis (Chattanooga, Tenn.) with less than a minute in the quarter, however another run from the Golden Rams left the game at 49-49 to enter the final quarter.
 
The score remained tight in the fourth, with neither team going up more than three points until a key score from Albany State to go up 61-57 at the 2:28 mark. From there, the Golden Rams made a defensive stop and extended their lead late from the foul line.
 
Tuskegee outscored Albany State 23-8 in bench points and 17-8 on points in the paint, while the teams were tied in points in the paint at 18-18. Albany State gained more fast break points (7-3) and second chance points (9-8).
 
Jackson led the way offensively on the day 18 points, along with six rebounds, three steals, and one assist, while Thorman-Mckey added a season-high 18 points, six rebounds and a pair of steals off the bench.
 
As a team, the Golden Tigers were held to 36.7 (22-for-60) percent from the floor and 20 (2-for-10) percent from deep in the loss.
 
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