Memphis, Tenn. — The Albany State women's basketball team continued its strong run in SIAC play on Saturday evening, securing a hard-fought 72–65 road victory over LeMoyne-Owen to improve to 6–3 overall and 5–3 in conference action. 

In a physical, back-and-forth contest, the Lady Golden Rams leaned on their defensive intensity, timely scoring, and strong performances from their veteran core to pull away late and earn another important conference win away from home. 

Albany State was led by Na'Haviya Paxton, who delivered a poised all-around effort with a game-high 20 points, adding five rebounds, four steals, and two assists. Paxton attacked the basket aggressively throughout the night, converting 6-of-9 free throws and consistently creating offense when the Lady Golden Rams needed it most. 

Sariah Johnson recorded a double-double, finishing with 13 points and 10 rebounds, providing a steady interior presence on both ends of the floor. Her work on the glass helped Albany State control the tempo and limit second-chance opportunities for the Lady Magicians. Tiffani Goodman also turned in a strong performance, scoring 13 points while dishing out four assists and pulling down six rebounds, showcasing her versatility and leadership. 

Off the bench, Khyla Ragins provided a valuable spark, scoring 10 points on 4-of-8 shooting, while Taliah Grier made the most of her minutes with eight points on a perfect 3-of-4 from the field. 

The Lady Golden Rams shot 47.4 percent from the field and controlled the boards with a 36-rebound effort, using balanced scoring and defensive pressure to withstand multiple pushes from LeMoyne-Owen. Albany State also forced key turnovers at critical moments, turning defensive stops into scoring opportunities down the stretch. 

Despite the Lady Magicians attempting to rally late, Albany State remained composed at the free-throw line and executed defensively in the final minutes to seal the victory and avenge a narrow loss earlier this season. 

Up Next:
Albany State remains on the road as the Lady Golden Rams travel to Jackson, Tenn., to face Lane College on Monday, January 5, with tipoff scheduled for 5:30 p.m. CT, as they look to continue building momentum in SIAC play.

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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.