TUSKEGEE, Ala. __ Tuskegee used suffocating defense to find its rhythm offensively and bounce back from Saturday's loss, dominating Central State 77-59 on Monday afternoon inside the Daniel "Chappie" James Center.
Central State (7-9, 4-5 SIAC) came into the contest averaging 72 points per game on 36 percent shooting. However, the Golden Tigers (9-4, 6-3 SIAC) held them to just 59 points on 30 percent from the field during the contest.
Tuskegee forced the Marauders to miss their first five shots and jumped out to a 9-3 lead foue and a half minutes into the game. Following a short response from Central State, TU ended the quarter up double figures, led by 14 combined points from
Jasmine Manuel (6), and four each from
Sumaiyah Abdur-Rahim and
Alana Roberts. Five players would score in the first quarter on the way to a 19-9 lead.
The stifling defense would continue in the second as Central State shot just 23.5 percent in the second quarter, making just four field goals, including one three in the frame. Meanwhile, Tuskegee shot 50 percent from the field, scored ten points off the bench, and stretched the lead to 20 by halftime, leading 40-20.
Central State came out strong to start the second half, cutting the lead to 14 with just over six minutes to play at 44-30. Tuskegee increased its lead to 27 with under ten seconds remaining and finished the quarter with the final six points. TU would cruise in the fourth on the way to the home win.
Abdur-Rahim and Manuel would finish with a game-highs of 17 points. Along with setting a career-high point total, Manuel also recorded her first career double-double, grabbing ten rebounds, including eight offensive, along with three blocks and two assists. Abdur-Rahim pulled down four boards and dished out three assists, followed by Bolin who finished with 16 points and two rebounds, while
Alana Roberts and
Mikayla Malik added eight and seven points respectively.
Abbigail Peterson led the Marauders with 11 points and three assists on the day, followed by Jacquel Bronaugh who added ten points and four rebounds.
Up Next
Tuskegee will hit the road for the first time in 2024 this coming weekend, as the Golden Tigers travel to Memphis to take on LeMoyne-Owen. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. inside Bruce-Johnson Hall.
How to Follow the Golden Tigers
For complete information on Tuskegee Golden Tigers Women's Basketball, visit
GoldenTigerSports.com and follow the team's social media channels on
Twitter,
Instagram and
Facebook.