ATLANTA, Ga. – The Tuskegee Golden Tigers women's basketball team came up short in their bid for the SIAC title, falling 68-54 to Miles College in the SIAC Championship game at Forbes Arena.
 
With the loss, Tuskegee moves to 20-10 overall, concluding a strong season with a deep tournament run.
 
The game opened with a competitive first quarter, as both teams battled for early momentum.
 
Tuskegee got on the board first with a mid-range jumper from Syann Holmes, but Miles responded quickly with a three-pointer by Iemyiah Harris to take an early lead.
 
The Golden Tigers kept pace in the first quarter behind buckets from Brittney Bolin and Hilani Cantone but struggled to string together stops defensively.
 
Miles capitalized on second-chance opportunities and transition baskets, closing the period with a 14-11 advantage.
 
The second quarter proved to be a defensive struggle for Tuskegee. The Golden Tigers managed just seven points in the frame, shooting 20 percent from the field.
 
A three-pointer from Alexandria Johnson briefly cut into the deficit, but Miles' defense stiffened, forcing multiple turnovers and limiting Tuskegee's offensive rhythm.
 
Harris continued to lead the charge for the Lady Bears, knocking down key jump shots to extend the lead. At the half, Miles held a 29-18 advantage, with Tuskegee needing a strong second-half performance to mount a comeback.
 
Coming out of the break, Tuskegee showed signs of life in the third quarter. Cantone and Holmes found their rhythm offensively, each knocking down key shots to chip away at the deficit.
 
The Golden Tigers outscored Miles 16-14 in the frame, sparked by aggressive rebounding from Cynaye Bobbitt and strong play in the paint.
 
However, Miles continued to respond, with Feliah Greer and Madison Lee converting key buckets to maintain the lead. The period ended with Tuskegee trailing 43-34, still within striking distance heading into the final quarter.
 
Miles took control in the fourth quarter, using a decisive scoring run to put the game out of reach.
 
The Golden Tigers struggled to contain Harris, who finished with a game-high 24 points, while Lee added 12 points and five rebounds.
 
Tuskegee fought to stay in the game with a late push, as Cantone scored multiple baskets to cut the deficit to 10, but Miles answered with clutch free throws and strong defensive stops down the stretch.
 
The Lady Bears closed out the contest with a dominant fourth quarter, outscoring Tuskegee 25-20 to seal the victory.
 
Cantone led the Golden Tigers with 16 points, while Bobbitt contributed 13 points and nine rebounds.
 
Holmes added seven points and five rebounds, but Tuskegee struggled offensively as a team, shooting just 32.1 percent from the field and 17.4 percent from three-point range.

Miles, on the other hand, finished the game shooting 47.9 percent from the field, knocking down timely shots and controlling the boards with a 34-35 rebounding advantage.
 
Despite the loss, Tuskegee showcased resilience throughout the tournament and earned a place in the championship game with strong performances in the earlier rounds.
 
As they look ahead, the Golden Tigers will await potential postseason opportunities while reflecting on a successful 2024-25 campaign.
 
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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