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.
On April 17, 2017, the school announced that it would return to Division II due to financial issues associated with competing in Division I. 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.
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.
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.
2015 16 First Round (1) South Carolina L 48–81
Season-by-season record
SeasonWinsLossesConference RecordHead CoachNotesReferences2009-10 Cedric Baker 2008-09 Cedric Baker 2007-081415 Cedric Baker 2006-071217 Cedric Baker 2005-06424 Cedric Baker 2004-05622 Cedric Baker 2003-04 Cedric Baker 2002-03 Robert Eskew 2001-02424 Anita Walsh-Harris 2000-01720 Anita Walsh 1999–2000716 Anita Walsh 1998-99 Savannah State placed on four years probation and scholarships were reduced in six sports1997-98 1996-97 1995-96 Carla Debro 1994-95 SIAC Eastern Division Champions and first ever invitation to the NCAA Division II Championship tournament1993-94 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 1976-77 Jimmie Westley 1975-76 Jimmie Westley 1974-75 Jimmie Westley 1973-74 1972-73 1971-72 1970-71 Totals28108NCAA Division I-AA Independent results 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. 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. In 1995 the Lady Tigers led the nation in field-goal percentage defense (32.2%). In 1984 the Lady Tigers led the nation in Average home game attendance (1,750 per game average).
References
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