Smith Lifts SSU Women Over Hornets

December 22, 2007
SAVANNAH, Ga- LaShara Smith had a career night in Savannah State's 63-61 victory over Alabama State. The junior from Daytona Beach, Florida scored a career-high 23 points and pulled down a career-high eight rebounds.

With the contest tied at 61, Smith hit two free throws with 4.3 seconds left to lift SSU to the win and improve to 6-5 on the season.

Assunta Fulfham scored 22 points for ASU which fell to 2-6.

Alabama State led by seven early in the first half but a 23-4 run by SSU gave the Lady Tigers a 27-15 advantage with 3:51 left in the half.

ASU closed out the half with a 7-3 mini-spurt and went into the locker room down 30-22.

Savannah State hit 12-of-34 shots from the field in the first period while the Hornets hit just 9-of-29 attempts.

After committing six turnovers in the opening half, SSU had 16 turnovers in the second period. ASU ended the game with 23 turnovers.

Savannah State led by 10 in the second half before ASU mounted a 10-0 run to tie the game at 42 with 7:54 remaining.

Not to be outdone, SSU put together a 10-2 run to go ahead by eight with 5:28 left.

Down by eight, the Hornets used a 13-4 run to take a 59-58 lead with 43 seconds on the clock. A jumper and free throw by Patrice Robinson put SSU ahead by two but a jumper by ASU's Erica Lumpkin tied the game at 61 with 25 seconds left.

Ivy Smith added 16 points for SSU while reserves Milan Johnson scored nine and Courtney Long added eight.