ATLANTA, Ga. – The Tuskegee women's basketball team continued their winning ways in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Championship, securing a decisive 56-40 victory over Spring Hill in the quarterfinal round.
With the win, the Golden Tigers improve to 19-9 on the season and extend their winning streak to four games as they advance to the SIAC semifinals.
Tuskegee set the tone early, jumping out to a competitive start in the first quarter. The Golden Tigers built an initial lead behind aggressive defense and efficient inside scoring.
La'Dajah Huguley opened the scoring for Tuskegee with a layup, quickly followed by
Hilani Cantone, who converted a three-point play after being fouled on a drive to the basket.
Spring Hill responded with a three-pointer from Claudia Garrido, but Tuskegee's defense forced multiple turnovers, leading to transition buckets.
Midway through the first quarter,
SyAnn Holmes drained a three-pointer to extend Tuskegee's lead to 8-6. Spring Hill countered with a layup by Laurie Severe, tying the game at 8-8.
The teams traded baskets until the closing moments, when
Brittney Bolin knocked down a jumper, helping Tuskegee finish the quarter with a 16-14 lead.
The second quarter saw both teams struggle offensively, with field-goal percentages dropping as defensive intensity ramped up.
Tuskegee managed only 3-of-20 shooting from the field, while Spring Hill fared slightly better at 4-of-13.
Despite the shooting woes,
Alexandria Johnson and
Trinity Layton made key defensive stops, with Layton's mid-range jumper putting Tuskegee ahead 19-16 with 7:45 remaining.
Spring Hill found momentum when Kellyn Hunter connected from deep, tying the game at 21-21 at the 4:28 mark.
The Badgers briefly took a 25-24 lead in the final seconds of the quarter off a driving layup by Hunter, but the Golden Tigers reclaimed control when Cantone's aggressive drive to the rim resulted in a free throw.
Tuskegee entered halftime trailing 25-24, but with their defense keeping the Badgers within reach.
Coming out of the break, Tuskegee wasted no time regaining control. The Golden Tigers dominated the third quarter, outscoring Spring Hill 15-5 while holding their opponent to a 13.3 percent field-goal percentage (2-of-15).
Cynaye Bobbitt ignited the offense with a three-pointer, followed by Bolin and Johnson, who each contributed with timely baskets. Tuskegee's defense stifled Spring Hill's perimeter shooting, forcing tough contested shots and capitalizing on rebounds.
Tuskegee's interior presence became a major factor, as Holmes and Huguley combined for crucial offensive rebounds, leading to second-chance points.
By the time the quarter ended, Tuskegee had built a 39-30 lead, giving them full momentum heading into the final period.
In the fourth quarter, Tuskegee put the game out of reach. The Golden Tigers outscored Spring Hill 17-10, led by Bolin, Bobbitt, and Holmes, who continued to find success in the paint.
Spring Hill attempted a late push, but Tuskegee's defense clamped down, forcing seven turnovers in the quarter alone.
With 2:49 remaining, a jump shot from Bolin extended the lead to 22 points (54-32) for Tuskegee's largest of the game.
Although Spring Hill managed to close the gap slightly in the final minutes, Tuskegee cruised to the 56-40 victory, securing their spot in the SIAC semifinals.
Bobbitt led the way for the Golden Tigers with a team-high 14 points and nine rebounds while shooting 6-of-11 from the field.
Brittney Bolin recorded a double-double, finishing with nine points and 10 rebounds, dominating the glass throughout the game.
Holmes added eight points, five rebounds, and two assists, while Huguley made an impact on both ends with eight points, five rebounds, and four assists. Johnson contributed seven points, four rebounds, and two assists to round out a balanced offensive effort.
Tuskegee controlled the boards, outrebounding Spring Hill 55-38, including an impressive 17 offensive rebounds. The Golden Tigers' defense was stifling, holding Spring Hill to just 26.2 percent shooting from the field (16-of-61) and 21.7 percent from beyond the arc (5-of-23).
Offensively, Tuskegee asserted their presence in the paint, outscoring Spring Hill 28-20 in that area while also capitalizing on second-chance opportunities with a 14-5 advantage.
The Golden Tigers' depth proved to be a difference-maker, as their bench outscored Spring Hill's reserves 25-4.
Up Next
With the win, Tuskegee advances to the SIAC semifinal round, where they will face Clark Atlanta on Friday at 2 p.m. ET, also inside of Forbes Arena. The Golden Tigers will look to extend their winning streak and move one step closer to securing an SIAC Championship title.
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
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Facebook.
