SAVANNAH, Ga. – A defensively-inspired 23-2 second half run aided the Kentucky State University women's basketball team as the Thorobreds opened Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action with a 73-69 victory over SIAC newcomer Savannah State Saturday.
Post game Interview
As soon as the Tigers took an eight-point lead midway through the third quarter, the clamps came out of the tool shed. Kentucky State limited SSU to 1-of-9 shooting while forcing a pair of turnovers.
Junior
Ashley Planter (Charleston, S.C.) got the run going with back-to-back layups, and then a three parade stormed through Tiger Arena. Senior
Carnethia Brown (Louisville, Ky.) drilled a pair, and senior
Amani Williams (Scotch Plains, N.J.) added a triple leading to a SSU timeout. The stoppage didn't stop the scoring barrage, and the Kentucky State lead grew to as much as 13 points with 7:59 remaining.
It didn't take long before the home team got back into the game by scoring eight of the next nine points, and the Kentucky State lead was down to five. A three-point play by Planter stemmed the tide, and a three-pointer by Brown pushed the Thorobreds lead back to nine.
Once again the Tigers clawed back into the game with a 9-2 run that got them to within two with 1:11 remaining. After an empty offensive possession, Kentucky State turned to the side of the court that gave them the lead, defense. Planter came up with the biggest defensive stop of the game – blocking the potential game-winning three-pointer.
Kentucky State raced out to an early double-digit lead by scoring the game's first 11 points, and kept the Tigers from its first field goal for the first six minutes of the contest. However, the lead was down to five by the time the quarter ended.
The second quarter witnessed four ties and four lead changes, and the host Tigers finished with a three-point halftime lead.
Four players reached double figures, led by Brown – who finished with 15 points. Senior
Victoria Blankenship (Fayetteville N.C.) added 13 points and seven rebounds, while Planter contributed 12 points and seven boards. Sophomore
Deja Antoine (Tamarac, Fla.) added 10 points.
Kentucky State (4-3 overall, 1-0 SIAC) steps away from SIAC action 1 p.m. Saturday, traveling to Bellarmine.
