HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Tuskegee women's basketball dropped a competitive non-conference game to Alabama Huntsville (UAH), 71-59, on Sunday afternoon inside Kelly Court at Spragins Hall.
The Golden Tigers, now 1-1 on the season, battled back after a slow first half but ultimately fell short in the matchup against the Chargers, who improved to 2-1.
Tuskegee faced challenges on both ends of the court in the first half, starting with a sluggish offensive performance and difficulties on the defensive glass. Despite generating open looks early, the Golden Tigers converted just 25.9 percent of their shots in the first 20 minutes, allowing UAH to control the tempo.
The game began with a tightly contested opening few minutes, with Tuskegee's Brittany Bolin scoring the team's first basket to tie the game at 2-2. UAH responded with back-to-back three-pointers by Mia Hollingsworth, giving the Chargers an early 8-2 advantage.
Shemaiah Mackin provided a spark off the bench, hitting a mid-range jumper to cut the deficit to four at the 4:30 mark. However, UAH capitalized on Tuskegee turnovers and extended their lead to 13-10 by the end of the quarter, with Bella White dominating the boards.
The second quarter saw UAH pull away with a 9-0 run, fueled by strong outside shooting and second-chance opportunities. Tuskegee's
Hilani Cantone ended the scoring drought with a layup at the 6:15 mark, but UAH quickly responded with an and-one play by Haley Nichols, extending their lead to 21-12.
Tuskegee struggled to counter UAH's defensive adjustments and trailed 30-19 at halftime, with Bolin leading the team with five points and three rebounds. UAH's Hollingsworth led all scorers with nine points at the break.
The Golden Tigers regrouped in the locker room and came out with increased intensity on both ends of the floor in the second half. Tuskegee's improved shot selection and defensive adjustments helped them stay competitive, particularly in the fourth quarter.
Tuskegee opened the second half with a renewed focus on attacking the basket, as
Alexandria Johnson hit a pull-up jumper to narrow the gap to 30-21. A quick three-pointer from Bolin brought the Golden Tigers within six points, but UAH countered with a 6-0 run led by Hollingsworth and Nichols, rebuilding their double-digit lead.
Tuskegee's defense forced three turnovers late in the quarter, and a baseline jumper from Cantone trimmed the deficit to 49-36 heading into the final period.
The Golden Tigers played their best basketball in the fourth quarter, outscoring UAH 23-22. The Golden Tigers executed well in transition, with Mackin and Johnson combining for nine points in the period. A steal by Cantone led to a fast-break layup, cutting the Chargers' lead to 59-50 with 3:15 remaining.
However, UAH responded with clutch free-throw shooting and a late three-pointer by White, sealing the game. Despite their improved effort, the early deficit and UAH's dominance in the paint proved too much to overcome.
TU finished the day shooting 23-for-65 (35.4 percent) from the floor, 4-for-18 (22.2 percent) from three, and 9-for-15 (60.0 percent) from the free throw line. The team scored added 17 bench points and 12 fast break points.
Bolin led the way with 11 points, three rebounds and two assists, while Cantone was the second double figure scorer, finishing with ten points and five rebounds.
Up Next
Tuskegee will look to bounce back in their next non-conference matchup, as the Golden Tigers will host West Florida in their 2024-25 home opener on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. inside the Daniel "Chappie" James Center.
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.
