TUSKEGEE, Ala. – A pair of stifling defensive quarters from the Golden Tigers help bring home a Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) win on Saturday afternoon, defeating LeMoyne-Owen, 74-57, inside the Daniel "Chappie" James Center in their return home.
 
Tuskegee (14-3, 11-0) put their first points on board after JuToreyia Willis (Chattanooga, Tenn.) converted in the lane after a game-opening turnover from LeMoyne-Owen. After another miscue on the next possession, Ashiala Jackson (Merrillville, Ind.) scored on the other end, as the Golden Tigers took a 9-0 lead to start the contest.
 
The Magicians got on the board on the next possession at the 6:33 mark before Tuskegee took a double-digit lead for the first time in the game at 13-10 just a minute later and led 23-9 heading into the second after holding LeMoyne-Owen to just four field goals and 33 percent shooting in the quarter.
 
Amariah Stanard (Stone Mountain, Ga.) opened the scoring in the second with a free throw a minute in, followed by another steal and score from Willis along with jumpers from Brittney Bolin (Trophy Club, Texas) and Arielle McElroy (Bolingbrook, Ill.) to put Tuskegee up 30-10 with 6:45 remaining in the half.
 
From there, the Magicians cut into the lead, pulling within 14 with four minutes left and 12 with 30 seconds remaining, however the Golden Tigers led 41-27 at the half.
 
Tuskegee remained in control in the second half, finding themselves up 20 twice during the first five minutes of the quarter. With 3:15 to go in the period, Aaliyah Austin (Satsuma, Ala.) sank a pair of free throws to spark a 7-0 run to close the third, with Tuskegee leading 60-33 after allowing just six points in the ten-minute frame.
 
LeMoyne-Owen continued to fight in the fourth, cutting the lead in half to trail by just 15 at 69-54 and 72-57. However, Tuskegee took home the 74-57 win despite being outscored 24-14 in the final quarter.
 
Three Golden Tigers finished in double figures on the day, led by Jackson with 17 points and six rebounds, followed by Willis with 15 points, four steals and three assists and Nadia Thorman-Mckey (Evanston, Ill.) who added 13 points and four rebounds in the win. Meanwhile, Tuskegee finished with shooting splits of 50 (29-for-58) percent from the field, 37.5 (3-for-8) percent from three-point range, and 68.4 (13-for-19) percent from the free throw line.
 
Up Next
The Golden Tigers will remain at home for their next matchup as they host the Lane Dragons on Monday, January 16 in a doubleheader starting at 5:30 p.m. inside of the Daniel "Chappie" James Center.
 
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