Savannah State Lady Tigers basketball

The Savannah State Lady Tigers women's basketball team represents Savannah State University in women's basketball. The school competes in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) in Division II of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The Lady Tigers play home games at Tiger Arena in Savannah, Georgia. The current head coach is Cedric Baker. Baker was named head coach on July 30, 2003.^[2]

Savannah State Lady Tigers
University	Savannah State University
Head coach	Cedric Baker (16th season)
Conference	SIAC
Location	Savannah, Georgia
Arena	Tiger Arena (capacity: 6,000)
Nickname	Lady Tigers
Colors	Burnt orange and reflex blue[1]
Uniforms
Home Away Alternate
NCAA tournament appearances
2015 (Division I)
Conference tournament champions
2015

On April 17, 2017, the school announced that it would return to Division II due to financial issues associated with competing in Division I.^[3][4] On December 7, 2017, the school announced it would rejoin Division II's Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) following the 2018–19 academic year, pending NCAA approval.^[5]

History

The Lady Tigers began play in 1928. They began Division II play in 1974, going 339-394 until they joined Division I in 2002. Since the 2002–03 season, they have a 148–260 record, with one appearance in the NCAA Tournament. They won 5 SEAC titles (1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956) and one SIAC title (1976). They have played in the MEAC since 2011, and they currently have a 35-45 all-time conference record. Savannah State beat Coppin State 66–52, North Carolina A&T State 62-59 and Maryland Eastern Shore 65–47 to win the MEAC Tournament in 2015 to go to their first NCAA Tournament in school history. They were beaten 81–48 in the First Round by South Carolina. The Lady Tigers finished 21–11, the best record in their history since playing in Division I.^[6]

Postseason

NCAA Division I Tournament results

The Lady Tigers have appeared in the NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament one time. Their record is 0–1.

Year	Seed	Round	Opponent	Result
2015	16	First Round	(1) South Carolina	L 48–81

Season-by-season record

  NCAA Division I Independent   SIAC (NCAA Division II)   NCAA Division III   NAIA Southeastern

Season	Wins	Losses	Conference Record	Head Coach	Notes	References
2009-10				Cedric Baker
2008-09				Cedric Baker
2007-08	14	15		Cedric Baker		[2]
2006-07	12	17		Cedric Baker		[2]
2005-06	4	24		Cedric Baker		[2][7]
2004-05	6	22		Cedric Baker		[2]
2003-04				Cedric Baker		[2]
2002-03				Robert Eskew		[8]
2001-02	4	24		Anita Walsh-Harris
2000-01	7	20		Anita Walsh
1999–2000	7	16		Anita Walsh
1998-99					Savannah State placed on four years probation and scholarships were reduced in six sports
1997-98
1996-97
1995-96				Carla Debro
1994-95					SIAC Eastern Division Champions and first ever invitation to the NCAA Division II Championship tournament
1993-94
1992-93
1991-92
1990-91
1989-90
1988-89
1987-88
1986-87
1985-86
1984-85
1983-84
1982-83
1981-82
1980-81
1979-80
1978-79
1977-78				Jimmie Westley		[9]
1976-77				Jimmie Westley		[9]
1975-76				Jimmie Westley		[9]
1974-75				Jimmie Westley		[9]
1973-74
1972-73
1971-72
1970-71
Totals	28	108		NCAA Division I-AA Independent results[7]
				NCAA Division II results
				NCAA Division III results
				NAIA results
				Regular season results
				Playoff results
				All games including playoffs

Team awards and NCAA records

• Savannah State once held the NCAA Division I record for fewest points scored in a half (3 points) which occurred on November 23, 2003, against Florida State.^[7] That record has since been broken at least twice when 2 points were scored in a half, by Lipscomb against Western Kentucky on December 16, 2016, and by Ole Miss against South Carolina on January 30, 2020.^[10]
• In 1995 the Lady Tigers led the nation in field-goal percentage defense (32.2%).^[7]
• In 1984 the Lady Tigers led the nation in Average home game attendance (1,750 per game average).^[7]

References

1. "Savannah State University Athletics – 2016 Football Quick Facts". Retrieved September 5, 2016.
2. "Savannah State University Women's Basketball Head Coach: Cedric Baker". Retrieved 2007-11-21.
3. "Savannah State plans to move athletics down to Division II". savannahnow.com. Retrieved 2018-02-13.
4. Ridpath, B. David. "Savannah State Is Doing The Right Thing By Downsizing Athletics". Forbes. Retrieved 2018-02-13.
5. "SSU moves to Division II Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference". Savannah State University. Retrieved 2018-02-13.
6. "Shared Publication".
7. "Official 2008 NCAA Women's Basketball Record Book" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on May 14, 2008. Retrieved 2007-11-27.
8. "Savannah State names three head coaches". 2002-08-17. Retrieved 2007-11-22.
9. "Morris Brown Announced New Coaches". 1999-07-23. Retrieved 2007-11-22.
10. "South Carolina Breaks Records at Ole Miss" (url). Retrieved 2020-03-09.

External links

• Official website