Savannah, Georgia-The upsets continue for SIAC East Division #6 seed, Edward Waters as the Tigers added East Division #2 seed and host school Savannah State to their upset list in a 63-62 victory in the quarterfinal round of the 2023 TIAA SIAC Basketball Championship presented by Cricket on Thursday afternoon at Tiger Arena. Additionally in the victory, 12th season Edward Waters head coach Charmaine Wilson clinched her 200th career victory as head coach. 

Edward Waters (13-15, 6-12 SIAC) dictated the pace throughout much of the contest thanks in part to solid play from the Smith sisters, guard Isis and forward Khadija. Khadija led the Lady Tigers with 20 points on 6-of-8 shooting, including hitting the game winning free throw to go along with eight boards. Isis was not too far behind, finishing with 15 points and four boards for the Purple & Orange.

The Lady Tigers led by as many as four points in the first quarter, but a late 7-0 run from Savannah State (17-8,13-6 SIAC) gave them a 15-12 lead at the end of the first quarter. Edward Waters was able to get the game tied at 21-21 with 2:35 remaining in the second quarter and ultimately took a 27-26 lead into the locker room.

The Purple & Orange came out of the halftime break on a 8-0 run to lead 35-26 at the 7:33 mark of the third. EWU led by as many as 12 points in the quarter and took a 49-40 lead into the fourth quarter. Edward Waters pushed the lead back to double digits at the 9:05 mark of the fourth but, as expected, the #2 seed was not going to go quietly into the night on their home floor. Savannah State fired back with an 11-0 run to take a 54-53 lead 6:58 left. Edward Waters was able to retake the lead at 58-54 with 5:38 remaining, but Savannah State tied the contest back at 61-61 with :40 remaining. A key foul on Savannah State sent Khadija Smith to the foul line with a chance to win the contest with :03 remaining. Smith hit the first one, but the second careened off of the rim allowing Savannah State one final opportunity. SSU was unable to get a shot off and Edward Waters punched their ticket to the semifinal round.

For the Lady Tigers, it is their third consecutive year making it to the semifinal round or better of at a conference tournament. EWU made it to the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference championship game in 2021, the GCAC semis in 2022, and now in their first appearance at the SIAC Tournament, they make it to the semis.

For the contest, Edward Waters hit 41.3% from the floor, holding SSU to 38.8% shooting and held them to 0-13 from the three point line. Joining the Smith sisters in double figures was guard Jourdan Avery who finished with 11 points, five rebounds, and three steals.

Edward Waters will next battle West Division #1 seed Tuskegee for a spot in the SIAC Championship Game on Friday at 12:00pm.

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