MEMPHIS, Tenn. ^__ The Tuskegee Golden Tigers women's basketball team concluded their regular season on a high note, securing a hard-fought 69-62 road victory over conference opponent LeMoyne-Owen at Bruce-Johnson Hall on Monday evening.

With the win, Tuskegee improved to 17-9 overall and 13-5 in SIAC play, solidifying their strong position heading into the postseason.

Tuskegee fell behind early in the first quarter, as LeMoyne-Owen took a quick lead, outscoring the Golden Tigers 25-17 in the opening period.

However, Tuskegee responded in the second quarter, tightening up defensively and finding more rhythm on offense. The Golden Tigers outscored LeMoyne-Owen 16-15 in the second quarter, trimming the deficit to 40-33 at halftime.

In the third quarter, Tuskegee continued to build momentum, outscoring LeMoyne-Owen 15-9 to pull within one point heading into the final frame.

Led by key performances from Jasmine Manuel, Hilani Cantone, and Brittney Bolin, the Golden Tigers took control in the fourth quarter, using a combination of strong defensive play and clutch scoring to seal the victory.

Manuel was a dominant force for Tuskegee, finishing with a game-high 20 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the field and an impressive 10-of-13 from the free-throw line. She also added three rebounds, two assists, and one steal in 31 minutes of play.

Cantone chipped in with 13 points, including a perfect 3-of-3 from beyond the arc, while also contributing five assists, four rebounds, and one steal. Bolin added 11 points, five rebounds, and two steals to round out the Golden Tigers' top performers.

Tuskegee's defense was key to their second-half surge, as they forced 12 turnovers and held LeMoyne-Owen to just 28.6% shooting from the field in the third quarter. The Golden Tigers' ability to capitalize on LeMoyne-Owen's mistakes was critical, as they scored 22 points off turnovers in the game.

Offensively, Tuskegee shot 46.7% from the field and 45.5% from three-point range, while converting 22-of-28 free-throw attempts (78.6%). The Golden Tigers also showcased their depth, as their bench contributed 21 points in the win.

For LeMoyne-Owen, Keria McGhee led the way with 14 points, five rebounds, five assists, and two steals. Kennedy Fuller added 10 points, while Marley Freeman chipped in with 13 points, eight of which came from the free-throw line.

How to Follow the Golden Tigers
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