WILBERFORCE, Ohio – Tuskegee women's basketball (13-3, 10-0 SIAC) defeated Central State, 66-56, on Monday evening inside of the Beacom-Lewis Gymnasium to wrap up their four-game conference road trip to start the year.
 
The teams battled from the start, seeing four lead changes and three ties in the quarter, ending with a layup from Ashiala Jackson (Merrillville, Ind.) put the Golden Tigers up 11-9 after the first. Each team led for over two minutes in the frame, with Central State's lead of three at the 2:12 mark was the biggest of the period.
 
Sumaiyah Abdur-Rahim (Grand Prairie, Texas) opened the second with a layup, before the Marauders responded with a run to take a 17-15 lead with just over five minutes remaining. From there, Tuskegee tied the game at 19-19 moments later, and rode the momentum through the remainder of the half, leading 28-23 heading into the locker rooms.
 
The Golden Tigers led by eight early before a Central State response to pull within four at 31-27 with just over eight minutes to play. Later, the Marauders came back from another eight-point lead to tie the game at 37-37 at the 3:33 mark.
 
JuToreyia Willis (Chattanooga, Tenn.) gave Tuskegee the lead for the final time with a fast break score that started an 8-2 run to close the quarter leading 45-39. From there, the Golden Tigers took a double figure lead in the fourth on a pair of occasions, fighting off multiple runs from Central State before earning the 66-56 win.
 
Nadia Thorman-Mckey (Evanston, Ill.) led four scorers for the Golden Tigers in double figures with 17 points and ten rebounds, her second double-double, while also grabbing four steals. Meanwhile, Brittney Bolin (Trophy Club, Texas) and Willis both added 14 points, followed by Abdur-Rahim with 13 points in the win.
 
Up Next
The Golden Tigers return home for their next matchup as they host LeMoyne-Owen in a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. inside of the Daniel "Chappie" James Center.
 
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