TUSKEGEE, Ala. — Lane College used a strong second-half surge and balanced scoring to defeat Tuskegee women's basketball 67-52 on Saturday afternoon inside the Daniel "Chappie" James Center in Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) action.
Tuskegee took an early lead and remained competitive throughout the first half, using efficiency from the free-throw line and a mix of interior and perimeter scoring to keep pace with the visiting Dragons.
The Golden Tigers shot 74.1 percent from the charity stripe while forcing turnovers and contesting shots, giving themselves multiple opportunities to remain within striking distance.
Senior guard
Arianna Durrell led Tuskegee with 17 points, going a perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line and knocking down a pair of threes. Durrell's scoring attack was complemented by senior forward
Shemaiah Mackin, who registered 11 points and a team-high 12 rebounds, anchoring the effort on the boards and providing physical presence on both ends of the floor.
Mackin also shot 90 percent (9-for-10) from the free throw line, helping the Golden Tigers remain close in a game where fast break points and second-chance opportunities swung momentum. The Golden Tigers finished the contest shooting 38.5 percent from the field (15-for-39) and 33.3 percent from three.
Lane's offensive attack was led by guard Dyani Bernstine, who poured in a game-high 18 points on efficient shooting, including eight free throws, while Alexis Rowe chipped in 13 points, followed by Lauren Lain added 11 in a balanced team scoring effort.
The Dragons shot 40 percent from the field (25-for-58) and knocked down two of five threes on the day, using timely rebounds and aggressive transition play to build momentum, particularly in the second half. Lane's bench also contributed key spark with points in relief that helped sustain offensive rhythm.
Defensively, Tuskegee continued to contest Lane's shots and limited the Dragons inside, but Lane responded by converting contested attempts and dominating the paint, outscoring the Golden Tigers in the second half by taking advantage of free-throw opportunities and winning the rebounding battle.
Tuskegee had overall success forcing turnovers, but Lane's unselfish scoring balance allowed the Dragons to stay one step ahead when establishing leads in the third and fourth quarters.
With the loss, Tuskegee falls to 8-5 overall and 8-4 in SIAC play, while Lane improves to 9-3 (8-3 SIAC). The Golden Tigers will now turn their focus to their next contest as they look to rebound and continue building through league play.
Up Next
Tuskegee returns to action on Wednesday, Jan. 14, as they host Spring Hill for the next SIAC matchup.
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.
