TUSKEGEE, Ala. — The Tuskegee women's basketball team battled throughout Saturday afternoon but came up short in a 58-50 rivalry loss to Miles College inside the Daniel "Chappie" James Center.

Tuskegee (11-11, 11-10 SIAC) jumped out early, using strong interior play and efficient shooting in the opening quarter to take an 18-14 lead after one. The Golden Tigers shot 57.1 percent from the field in the first period and controlled the tempo, highlighted by key baskets from Shemaiah Mackin and Aaliyah Duranham.

The second quarter proved pivotal, as Miles (20-5, 18-3 SIAC) tightened its defense and held Tuskegee to just eight points. The Lady Bears limited second-chance opportunities and forced tough looks, taking a 29-26 lead into halftime.

Tuskegee remained within striking distance in the third quarter. A balanced scoring effort and defensive stops kept the Golden Tigers close, trailing 38-36 heading into the final period. However, Miles used a 20-point fourth quarter to create separation, capitalizing on points in the paint and timely free throws down the stretch.

Miles was led by Samarian Franklin, who poured in a game-high 19 points and added five assists. Makayla Rieves contributed 11 points and five rebounds, while Jaylen Pleasant added eight points and three steals. The Lady Bears shot 32.7 percent from the field but converted 20-of-24 from the free-throw line (83.3 percent), which proved decisive.

Tuskegee was paced by Mackin with 14 points and a team-high 10 rebounds for a double-double effort. Arianna Durrell also scored 14 points, while Duranham added 10 points, while Tenea Robinson contributed eight points and seven rebounds. The Golden Tigers shot 36.4 percent from the field but struggled from beyond the arc, finishing 0-for-6 from three-point range.

Miles held a 31-29 advantage on the boards and outscored Tuskegee 30-22 in the paint. The Lady Bears also capitalized on 18 Tuskegee turnovers, turning them into 18 points.

Despite the setback, Tuskegee showed resilience early and remained competitive throughout three quarters before Miles' late surge sealed the outcome.

Up Next
The Golden Tigers will look to regroup as they continue conference play next week, starting with the final regular season road game against Albany State on Monday at 5:30 p.m.

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.