PENSACOLA, Fla. — Tuskegee women's basketball opened the 2025-26 season with a battle that came down to the final possession of regulation before ultimately falling 63-59 in overtime on the road to West Florida on Tuesday morning inside the UWF Field House.
 
Tuskegee (0-1) controlled much of the first half behind its defensive pressure and balanced scoring, holding West Florida to just 21 first half points. West Florida (3-0) jumped ahead early with a 7-2 run sparked by strong interior.
 
The Golden Tigers battled back to tie the game at 9-9 and continued their run to go up 13-9. They controlled the rest of the first and held a 34-31 halftime lead after being outscored 18-17 in the second quarter.
 
The Argonauts entered undefeated after two wins at the GSC/SSC South Region Crossover, responded in the third quarter with a surge behind the hot shooting of Chloe Galombeck and Isabel Grimes. The Argonauts opened the second half on a run to retake the lead at 41-38, and the two teams battled back and forth through the remainder of the frame.
 
Tuskegee held their own with seven combined points from A'Iyonna Kimble and Shemaiah Mackin to steady the Golden Tigers heading into the fourth quarter.
 
Tuskegee trailed 48-44 heading into the fourth and trailed by as many as eight points before Arianna Durrell hit a three pointer to tie the game at 61-61. West Florida's potential game-winner missed as time expired, sending the game into overtime.
 
In the extra period, West Florida capitalized on second-chance opportunities and free throws, outscoring Tuskegee 14-8. The Argonauts took the lead for good on a field goal from Grimes with just over four minutes remaining, while a stint of late turnovers hindered Tuskegee's comeback effort.
 
Durrell led Tuskegee with 24 points, four rebounds and two assists, followed by Mackin with 17 points and nine rebounds, while Aaliyah Duranham added eight points and six rebounds in her Golden Tiger debut.
 
West Florida was paced by Grimes' 19 points, while Amelia Bell added 16 points and seven rebounds. Meanwhile, Avery O'Connor finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double and Calombeck added 13 points to round out the double figure scorers.
 
Up Next
The Golden Tigers will return home for their next matchup as they host Fort Valley State at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 20, 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.
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