SAVANNAH, Ga. – The Lady Rams postseason run will continue for another round. Albany State netted the final four points before halftime for the lead and never gave it up again tin a 56-51 win over Lane College and marched on to the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Quarterfinals.
Trailing 20-19, Keyra Peterson hit the jumper with 2:40 left in the first half to push ASH ahead. Kyla Raven followed with her lone bucket of the night two minutes later for a 23-20 intermission advantage. Johanna Bell laid in the second 20 minutes bucket, before Lane made one free throw for a four-point margin, 25-21. The Dragons would get no closer over the final 19 minutes of play as Yasmine Fairchild made two-straight layups to follow. Lane pulled back to within four points, 44-40, with 5:54 remaining, but it made it no closer.
With the second win in three days, the Lady Rams move on to the SIAC Quarterfinals on Friday (March 8). ASU will play rival Fort Valley State in a 2:30 p.m. matchup.
Leading the winning effort, Elisa Saffold downed a trio of treys for 15 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Milana Holmes made 4 of 6 field goals for 11 points and had three boards. Bell chipped in nine tallies, six rebounds, five assists and a pair of steals. Peterson made one 3-pointer as part of her nine points and Fairchild pulled down a team-high 12 rebounds to go with her eight points.
Brailyn Tate led the Lane effort with 16 points and six rebounds.
Holmes led off the night with the opening points before the Dragons tied it. Saffold hit connected on three shots in a row with a jumper, 3-pointer and a layup for a 9-2 score at 3:42 in the first period left. Lane tied it for a second time early with the next seven tallies, before Bell pushed her team back in front, 11-9.
After a Saffold 3-pointer with 4:06 before half, ASU led 19-15 before Lane's last lead with five points in a row for a 20-19 score.
Following a Fairchild shot to start the final quarter, ASU held a 43-31 lead. The Dragons made their big push with a 9-1 burst to pull within four, 44-40, at 5:54 to go. Holmes answered the run for the Lady Rams with a 3-point play and another layup to regain the momentum, 49-40.
The Lady Rams march on to face Fort Valley State University on Friday,March 8 at 2:30pm in the Quarterfinals of the SIAC Women's Conference Championship Tournament.
