Women’s Basketball loses nail-biter to neighbor Savannah State

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  • Senior Sierra Butler goes up for block in a game at Hanner Fieldhouse earlier this season. The Eagles lost to Savannah State, 71-67, on Wednesday.

Kaitlin Sells

The Georgia Southern women’s basketball team broke their two-game win streak with a loss from neighboring school, Savannah State Wednesday night by just four points.

Although they lead the Tigers 31-26 at the end of the haft, Savannah State utilized a 13-4 run to take a heavy lead of 68-59 with only two minutes left in the game, and the Tigers ended the game victorious with a final score of 71-67.

The Eagles’ record is now 3-4 this season.

First Half

The Eagles led the first quarter 22-11, and ended the first half leading the Tigers 31-26. Georgia Southern shot a 31.3 percent from the floor in the first quarter, and 16.7 percent from the floor in the second quarter, whereas Savannah state shot 23.1 percent in the first quarter and a better 33.3 percent in the second quarter.

The Eagles held their possessions and made sure to have no turnovers in the first half as well.

Second Half

Although they were down the Tigers didn’t stop fighting for points. Savannah State shot 58.3 percent from the floor, had an eight-point run, and scored a total of twenty points at the end of the third quarter to take the lead of 46-43. Southern on the other hand only shot 20 percent from the floor and scored a total of twelve points during the third quarter.

The beginning of the fourth quarter was close, both teams scoring back and forth, until the tigers went off on a 13-4 run to claim a 68-59 lead with only two minutes left in the game. In spite the fact they were down and running out of time, the Eagles were not ready to give up quite yet. Within the last minute of the game Southern was able to turn it into a one-point game with the help from some sunken free-throws and one three-pointer, but Savannah State didn’t let up their intensity either.

By sinking three more free-throws the Tigers were able to seal a 71-67 victory over the Eagles.

Analysis

All around, four players individually reached double digits. Georgia Southern sophomore Rhein Beamon lead those four with 15 points and a perfect 7-for-7 free throw game.

Following behind, freshman Tatum Barber had a personal season high of 13 points, and other freshman Nakol Franks and Hailey Dias-Allen also reached double figures with 11 and 10 points. Georgia Southern shot 32.1 percent from the floor overall and Savannah State shot higher with a 44.2 percent from the floor overall.

GS will be traveling to Orlando, Florida for their next matchup against University of Central Florida on Friday, Dec. 10, at 11 a.m..