DAHLONEGA, Ga. __ The Tuskegee women's basketball team suffered a 72-57 defeat to North Georgia in their final non-conference game of the season on Monday evening.
The Golden Tigers, now 3-4 overall and 0-1 in SIAC play, were unable to overcome a strong second-half performance from North Georgia, despite keeping the game close through the first three quarters.
The game began with a competitive pace, as both teams exchanged leads throughout the opening period.
The first quarter was tightly contested, with Tuskegee trailing by just one point, 13-12, as the teams entered the second period.
In the second quarter, Tuskegee continued to battle but struggled offensively, shooting just 28.6 percent from the field.
Alexandria Johnson and
Hilani Cantone led the charge, with Johnson contributing key baskets and Cantone playing solid defense.
North Georgia capitalized on their opportunities, maintaining their lead throughout the quarter. They led by three points at halftime, 28-25.
The third quarter saw Tuskegee begin to find its rhythm offensively. Bolin hit another three-pointer, and
Cynaye Bobbitt made a strong layup, keeping the Golden Tigers within striking distance.
The third was a back-and-forth affair, as North Georgia scored 22 to Tuskegee's 21. Jones and Trushel led UNG's offense, combining for 16 points in the third quarter alone. Tuskegee entered the final period trailing by just 5 points, 50-45.
In the fourth quarter, the Nighthawks took control of the game, outscoring Tuskegee 22-11. Tuskegee struggled to get stops and convert on offense.
North Georgia capitalized on free throws, shooting an impressive 84.0 percent from the line, and their defense forced several turnovers that led to fast-break points.
Brittney Bolin led Tuskegee with 17 points, four rebounds, and an assist. Johnson added 12 points, three assists, and a pair of rebounds, showing consistency in the paint and from the free-throw line. Bobbitt also made an impact off the bench, contributing seven points and four rebounds.
For North Georgia, Jones had an outstanding performance, finishing with 21 points and nine rebounds, while Caroline Martin added 13 points and six rebounds.
Trushel contributed 12 points and five rebounds, and Kendall Emener helped dominate the glass, pulling down 11 rebounds to go along with her eight points.
Tuskegee struggled with shooting, finishing the game at 31.8 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from beyond the arc. They also made 81.8 percent of their free throws.
North Georgia, on the other hand, shot 45.8 percent from the field and 50.0 percent from three-point range.
The Saints also outrebounded Tuskegee 41-32 and forced 13 turnovers, turning those into 14 fast-break points.
Up Next
Tuskegee will now look to regroup as they return to SIAC play in their next matchup, as they have a rematch with Clark Atlanta, this time on the road on Sunday, December 8. Tip-off is scheduled for a 2 p.m. ET inside of L.S. Epps Gymnasium.
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.
