Morrow, Ga. — The Albany State Lady Golden Rams saw their postseason run come to a dramatic end in a thrilling semifinal matchup, falling just short in a 71–69 loss to the Lane College Lady Dragons.

With the loss, the Lady Golden Rams conclude the 2025–26 season with a 16–12 overall record under the leadership of Interim Head Coach Todd Triplett, marking a season defined by resilience, growth, and several standout individual performances.

Albany State faced a tightly contested semifinal game with 13 ties and 11 lead changes. The Lady Golden Rams displayed intensity and composure throughout, showcasing the growth and resilience that defined their season.

After a competitive opening quarter, Albany State remained within striking distance and continued to apply pressure on both ends of the floor. The Lady Golden Rams steadily built momentum as the game progressed, delivering one of their strongest stretches during the second half.

The third quarter marked a turning point as Albany State shot an impressive 50 percent from the field, outscoring Lane and setting the stage for a thrilling final period. The Lady Golden Rams continued their surge in the fourth quarter, pouring in 24 points while shooting 93.3 percent from the free-throw line in the closing minutes.

Albany State held its largest lead of the night midway through the fourth quarter, going up 67–58 with just over two minutes remaining. The Lady Golden Rams continued to fight down the stretch, reclaiming the lead late in the game when Jada Morgan converted a driving layup with 22 seconds remaining to put Albany State ahead 69–68, igniting the bench and crowd.

Morgan led the Lady Golden Rams offensively with 17 points, attacking the basket and converting 9-of-11 free throws while adding two assists and a steal. Na'Haviya Paxton delivered a strong all-around performance with 10 points, five rebounds, four steals, and a block while playing a game-high 39 minutes.

Albany State also received key contributions from the frontcourt. Quantrese Washington provided a spark off the bench with 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting and seven rebounds, while Paris Triplett added 10 points and seven rebounds in an efficient effort inside the paint. Khyla Ragins contributed eight points, five rebounds, four assists, and two steals, highlighting the team's balanced effort.

As a team, the Lady Golden Rams controlled the glass with 40 rebounds and forced key turnovers with 11 steals, reflecting the defensive identity that carried Albany State throughout the season.

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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 competing in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), except women's soccer, which participates in the Peach Belt Conference.