The Fighting Tigers Take Home the Victory in Triple Overtime, 95-87
CUTHBERT, Ga. — The Lady Tigers fight back to secure their third straight victory in a triple-overtime thriller and take down Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) 95-87.
The Fighting Tigers struggled through the first half; however, the Tigers gained some needed momentum at the end of the second quarter with their second straight buzzer-beater to end the period, cutting the FSCJ lead down to five, 38-33. The first shot to beat the buzzer came off the hands of Braniya Baker as she launched a half-court heave to cut the Manta Rays' lead down to seven.
"Baker was an All-Region player last year. She's a sophomore and she brings steadiness, experience, and when she gets hot, she can blow it up," Head Women's Basketball Coach Kelly Britsky said.
Despite their early struggles and some suffocating defense from FSCJ, the Tigers didn't roll over and show their belly. Instead, the Tigers came out in the fourth quarter with a new fire, led by Jasmyn Thomas and Baker. Thomas finished with a season-high 34 points, accompanied by Baker's 10 fourth-quarter points to force overtime.
"We lost opening weekend down there pretty handedly. I think tonight's game showed all of our growth, how we have progressed and, most of all, that we were just resilient at the end and kept hanging in there," said Britsky.
Thomas' 34-point effort marks her third double-digit performance over her past four games.
"Jasmyn Thomas had a coming-out party. She had 34 points. We knew she could, and it was a big game for her tonight," said Britsky.
Going into triple overtime, Tiger fans were eager to see Andrew College pull out the win after battling back from being down 15 heading into the fourth quarter. Following an easy layup by FSCJ, Thomas knocked down a clutch three to give the Tigers a two-point advantage, 87-85. The Tigers would go on to hold the Manta Rays to just four points in the period. Although Thomas led the charge and added to the Tigers' lead with a strong finish at the basket to give Andrew College a six-point lead, 91-85, Jayla Hutchinson sealed the game after getting fouled with eight seconds left and knocking down two free throws to take home the victory.
"Resiliency, effort and teamwork. For me, I'm always telling them next play, let's be disciplined. The big thing for me is to always say, let's match their energy and then exceed their energy," said Assistant Women's Basketball Coach Kanandus Walker. "Building that culture and building that standard for this program is going to carry us through the remainder of this year."
The Lady Tigers take the floor again at Jinks Gymnasium on Nov. 11 against Southern Union State Community College.
Andrew College is a National Junior College Athletic Association Division I school located in Cuthbert, Georgia. The Fighting Tigers sponsor 14 sports and compete in the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association. Andrew College will move to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, effective July 1, 2026.