FRANKFORT, Ky. – The Tuskegee University women's basketball team continued their dominant stretch in SIAC play, securing their tenth consecutive victory with a convincing 77-62 road win over Kentucky State at the William Exum Center on Saturday afternoon.
The Golden Tigers improved to 15-8 overall and 12-4 in the SIAC, solidifying their position as a conference title contender.
Tuskegee wasted no time establishing its presence, opening the game with an aggressive offensive approach.
Hilani Cantone set the tone early with a layup off an assist from Syann Holmes, giving the Golden Tigers a quick 2-0 lead.
Kentucky State responded with a strong inside presence, as Mondrea Williams capitalized on second-chance opportunities, keeping the game close through the opening minutes.
The first quarter saw a back-and-forth battle with multiple lead changes, but Tuskegee's three-point shooting proved to be the difference.
Brittney Bolin and
Alexandria Johnson connected from deep, helping the Golden Tigers close the quarter with a slim 19-18 advantage. Johnson's sharpshooting off the bench was a major spark, as she finished the night 3-for-3 from beyond the arc.
The Golden Tigers carried their momentum into the second quarter, going on an early 6-0 run highlighted by back-to-back baskets from Cantone and a three-pointer from Bolin.
Kentucky State fought back with a 9-0 run of their own, led by Naja Fenelon and Jordan Isom, briefly reclaiming the lead at 32-29 with just over four minutes remaining in the half.
However, Tuskegee's defensive adjustments stifled the Thorobrettes' offense, forcing key turnovers. A clutch three-pointer from Cantone in the closing seconds of the half gave the Golden Tigers a 39-36 edge heading into the break.
Coming out of halftime, Tuskegee looked to extend their lead, but Kentucky State stayed within striking distance. Isom and Diara McBroom continued to provide an offensive spark for the home team, as they combined for 11 third-quarter points.
The Golden Tigers' offense slowed in the third, shooting just 23.5% from the field, but free throws kept them ahead. Cantone and
Jasmine Manuel combined for seven points from the charity stripe, maintaining a 54-51 lead heading into the final frame.
The fourth quarter belonged to Tuskegee. The Golden Tigers erupted for a game-defining 9-0 run in the opening minutes, fueled by suffocating defense and transition offense.
Cantone, who had been the most consistent scorer all night, hit another mid-range jumper to push the lead to double digits. Kentucky State struggled to keep pace, managing just 29.4% shooting in the final frame.
Bolin, who finished with 11 points, drained another dagger three-pointer with two minutes remaining, extending the lead to 15 points—the largest of the game. The Golden Tigers sealed the win at the free-throw line, knocking down 12-of-14 attempts in the closing minutes to cruise to a 77-62 victory.
Up Next
The Golden Tigers will look to extend their win streak when they return to play for a key SIAC matchup on Monday against Central State. With just a few games left in the regular season, Tuskegee is positioning itself as a serious contender for the conference tournament.
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,
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Facebook.
