HOLLY SPRINGS, Miss. - Stillman College women's basketball avenged a one-point loss from last November with an 83-55 win over Tougaloo College on Friday night. The win, which opened the Rust College Dr. Ishmell Edwards Founder's Day Classic, moves the Tigers to 5-0 for the first time in more than 25 years.
Last fall, Stillman entered met Tougaloo in Holly Springs looking to go 5-0, but came up short, 51-50. This year, Stillman opened the game with an 8-2 run. When Tougaloo fought back and tied the game at 12,
Alexandria Haymon hit a 3-pointer to keep Stillman in front. The Tigers closed the first quarter with an 18-14 lead.
Jamesha King, who led Stillman with 18 points, gave the Tigers their first double-digit lead, 28-19. Stillman led by 15 at the half, 44-29.
King and
Farrah Pearson, who finished with 16 points, paced the Tigers early in the second half to further expand the lead, and Tougaloo never got close again.
Stillman shot 49.3% as a team in the game, while holding Tougaloo to 28.3%. Eleven Tiger players combined to out-rebound the Bulldogs by 20 boards, 50-30. King had nine rebounds and Haymon had eight to lead Stillman. King also had four steals and four blocks, while shooting 57% from the floor.
The Founder's Day Classic continues Friday, Nov. 11 with Stillman (5-0) meeting host Rust College (1-0) at 5 p.m. Rust is ranked No. 21 in the NAIA preseason coaches' poll.
