Edward Waters women's basketball team upset by Albany State

Albany State went on an 18-5 first-quarter run, led by Lake City Columbia graduate Na’Haviya Paxton, and never relinquished the lead in stunning top-seeded Edward Waters 80-49 on March 4 in a quarterfinal game of the SIAC Women’s Basketball Tournament, at the Arena at Southlake in Morrow, Ga. 

The Tigers (23-5) ended their season by having a 14-game winning streak snapped by the Rams (16-11). The loss came a day after EWU coach Eric Jackson Jr., was voted SIAC Coach of the Year. 

The Rams pulled away from an early 3-3 tie to lead 21-8 by the end of the first period. Paxton scored 10 points in the period and went on to post a game-high 28 points, along with 11 rebounds and five steals. 

Edward Waters, which had not given up more than 73 points in a regular-season conference game, had swept Albany during the regular season, winning 89-49 at home and 71-42 in Albany. The Tigers led all NCAA Division II teams in scoring defense, allowing only 49.4 per game. 

Tan Brown led the Tigers with 15 points and Shcira Fowles had 14 rebounds. The Tigers shot 12 of 60 from the floor (20 percent) and made only 2 of 19 3-point attempts (10.5 percent). They were also outrebounded 59-36. 

Morehouse 72, Edward Waters 62 

In an SIAC men’s quarterfinal at the Clayton County Convention Center in Morrow, Ga., the Tigers’ season ended with a loss to top-seeded Maroon Tigers. Jaelen Nelson led Edward Waters (15-15) with 17 points, Keshawn Evans had 12 points, nine rebounds and five steals and Myles Hosten had 11 points. 

Flagler 83, USC-Beaufort 70 

The Saints avenged two regular-season losses to the Sand Sharks by winning the opening game of the Peach Belt Men’s Tournament. Rahdir Hicks and Hoku Fisher had 15 points each, Mason Manning 12 and Melvin Teal 11. Aidan Harris added nine points and 10 rebounds. 

The fourth-seeded Saints (18-11) will play top-seeded Lander (S.C.) at 1 p.m. on March 7 at the Finis Horn Arena in Greenwood, S.C. Lander defeated No. 8  USC-Aiken 91-81. 

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Top-seeded EWU women's team stunned by Albany State in SIAC Tournament