TUSKEGEE, Ala. – Tuskegee women's basketball will travel to Frankfort, Kentucky, for a pivotal Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) matchup against Kentucky State University on Saturday at 12:00 p.m. inside the William Exum Center.
The Golden Tigers enter the game riding a nine-game winning streak, boasting a 14-8 overall record and an 11-4 mark in SIAC play, positioning them as the top seed in the SIAC West Division.
Meanwhile, the Thorobreds come into the contest at 7-13 overall and 6-8 in SIAC action, looking to bounce back from a road loss to LeMoyne-Owen.
ABOUT TUSKEGEE (14-8, 11-4 SIAC)
Tuskegee has been one of the hottest teams in the SIAC, winning 10 of their last 11 contests, showcasing their ability to dominate on both ends of the floor.
The Golden Tigers have been stout defensively, allowing only 53.7 points per game, the best scoring defense in the conference.
Their defensive prowess is complemented by an offense that averages 57.9 points per contest, fueled by key performances from
Brittney Bolin,
Hilani Cantone, and
Jasmine Manuel.
Bolin leads the team in scoring with 11.2 points per game, shooting 33.6 percent from the field and 85.5 percent from the free-throw line.
Cantone is right behind her, averaging 10.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game, while Manuel has been dominant in the paint, pulling down a team-high 6.6 rebounds per contest to go along with 7.7 points per game.
Tuskegee's defense has been a key factor in their recent success, averaging 8.5 steals per game while forcing opponents into an average of 19.1 turnovers per game.
This ability to create defensive pressure and capitalize on opponents' mistakes has been instrumental in their climb to the top of the SIAC West standings.
ABOUT KENTUCKY STATE (7-13, 6-8 SIAC)
The Thorobreds, despite a 1-9 road record, have been significantly better at home, posting a 6-5 record inside the William Exum Center.
However, they have struggled with consistency on offense, averaging just 59.8 points per game, while allowing opponents to score 66.9 points per contest.
Leading the charge for Kentucky State is Naja Fenelon, who paces the team with 10.4 points per game, shooting 38.5 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from beyond the arc.
She is joined by Khalia Bryant, who is averaging 10.1 points and a team-high 8.5 rebounds per game, providing a strong presence in the paint. Mondrea Williams has also been a key contributor, averaging 6.6 points and 7.7 rebounds per contest.
One of Kentucky State's biggest struggles this season has been ball control, as they average 23.7 turnovers per game, significantly higher than Tuskegee's 16.9 turnovers per game. This has led to opponents outscoring them by an average margin of 9.4 points per game.
The battle between Tuskegee's defense and Kentucky State's rebounding will be crucial. The Golden Tigers allow just 53.7 points per game, while Kentucky State relies on its ability to crash the boards, averaging 40.0 rebounds per game compared to Tuskegee's 38.4 per game.
Additionally, three-point shooting efficiency could play a role in the outcome. While Tuskegee is shooting 25.6 percent from beyond the arc, Kentucky State has been even less efficient at 23.0 percent.
Both teams will need to find ways to generate quality shots and convert from deep if they hope to gain an edge.
These two teams last met on January 20, with Tuskegee securing a 62-47 victory at home behind a balanced scoring attack led by Cantone's 16 points.
The Golden Tigers will look to replicate that performance on the road, while Kentucky State aims to even the season series.
A win for Tuskegee would go towards solidifiying their hold on the No. 1 spot in the SIAC West, while a victory for Kentucky State would boost their hopes of climbing the conference standings as the postseason approaches.
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.
