Women's Basketball 3/1/2022 12:31:00 AM

Golden Tigers set to face Kentucky State on Wednesday in second round of SIAC Championship Tournament

Tuskegee (1W) battles Kentucky State (5W) for a chance to advance to the SIAC Championship Tournament semifinal round

ROCK HILL, S.C. I Head coach Trelanne Powell and her Golden Tiger team will begin tournament play on with a battle against Kentucky State in the quarterfinal round of the SIAC Tournament Championship on Wednesday at 4:45 on ESPN+.

Tuskegee (21-4, 15-3 SIAC) earned the top seed in the Western Division, while Kentucky State finished fifth in the division and defeated Clark Atlanta 78-68 to advance to the quarterfinals.

The Golden Tigers enter the contest having won three of their last four games following a home 81-54 win over Spring Hill to close out the season on February 22. It was Tuskegee's 12th win inside of the Chappie James Center and the fourth consecutive year they hold a winning record at home – all under Powell.

Ashiala Jackson (Merrillville, Ind.) and JuToreyia Willis (Chattanooga, Tenn.) lead the way for Tuskegee this season as they were named SIAC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year awards respectively. Jackson averaged a double-double on the year, posting team-highs of 19.5 points and 10.2 rebounds and accounted for 2.1 steals per contest, while Willis averaged 14.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.5 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game.

India Blakely (Troy, Ala.) was the third double figure scorer for the Golden Tigers, averaging 11.2 points, 4.0. assists and 3.7 rebounds from her point guard spot, followed by three other players who average at least five points per game.

The two teams met twice this season, with the Golden Tigers sweeping the series with a 73-64 win in Frankfort (Jan.31), followed by a 75-66 win a few days later in Tuskegee (Feb. 5).

Kentucky State is led by Laurie Thomas who averages 11.7 points and 7.6 rebounds per game and Hannah Henderson at 10.6 points and 5.8 rebounds per contest and have four other players who average at least seven points per.

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