Albany, Ga. — History met momentum on Saturday afternoon inside the Arena at West Campus, and the Lady Golden Rams made sure both stayed on their side. Behind a dominant fourth-quarter surge and balanced scoring effort, Albany State pulled away from Central State for a 72–52 conference victory, extending its win streak to seven games—a mark the program had not reached since the 2010–11 season. With the win, the Lady Golden Rams improved to 9–3 overall and 8–3 in SIAC play, continuing their steady climb up the conference standings.
From the opening tip, Albany State set the tone with energy on both ends of the floor. The Lady Rams jumped out to a 20–10 first-quarter lead, using active defense and strong rebounding to dictate pace early. Central State responded with its best stretch of the game in the third quarter, trimming the margin and briefly making things uncomfortable, but the home team never wavered. What followed in the final 10 minutes was a statement.
Albany State exploded for 28 points in the fourth quarter, shooting over 57 percent while locking down defensively. The Lady Rams outscored the Marauders 28–9 in the period, turning a competitive game into a decisive conference win.
Sariah Johnson delivered one of her strongest performances of the season, finishing with a game-high 20 points on 8-of-16 shooting while pulling down nine rebounds. Her physical play inside fueled Albany State's dominance in the paint, where the Lady Rams held a 48–22 advantage.
Jada Morgan continued her consistent scoring stretch, adding 19 points, six steals, and three assists while attacking the basket relentlessly.
Na'Haviya Paxton chipped in 15 points and five rebounds, and
Paris Triplett provided efficiency and toughness with 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting and six rebounds.
Albany State's defense once again proved to be the difference. The Lady Rams forced 22 Central State turnovers, converting them into 34 points, while also scoring 25 second-chance points. Even on a night when perimeter shooting was limited, Albany State controlled the game through hustle, rebounding, and pressure.
The victory not only kept the Lady Golden Rams rolling but also served as a reminder of how far the program has come, stringing together seven straight wins for the first time in more than a decade.
Albany State now turns its attention to the road, where the Lady Rams will look to keep the streak alive against Miles College on Tuesday, January 13, in Fairfield, Alabama.
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ABOUT ALBANY STATE ATHLETICS
Albany State University is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II-level intercollegiate athletic program. The university currently fields teams in 11 sports: women's volleyball, women's tennis, women's cross country, men's and women's basketball, softball, men's and women's track and field, women's soccer, baseball, and football with all teams compete in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), except women's soccer, which participates in the Peach Belt Conference.
