From STAFF REPORTS

ALBANY – The Albany State University (ASU) women’s basketball team was unable to snap its losing streak in its first home game of 2017. ASU made runs to stay in contention, but eventually lost 62-54 to Lane College.
With the loss, the Lady Rams fall to 1-12 overall and 1-3 in the SIAC. The loss to the Lady Dragons was Albany State’s seventh consecutive loss. With the win, Lane improves to 5-8, 4-1.
Albany State managed to stay close with the Lady Dragons for most of the first half. The Lady Rams trailed 16-12 after the first quarter and 33-27 at halftime.
In the third period, however, Lane outscored the home team 19-10 to take a commanding 52-37 advantage. A basket by Ashley Gayle at the 8:42 mark of the final stanza gave the visitors their biggest lead of the game at 54-37. ASI did cut its deficit to nine, 59-50, with 53 seconds left, but it eventually ran out of time for a miraculous comeback.
Freshman, Tyra Thompson, narrowly missed recording a double-double for Albany State. Thompson contributed 11 points and nine rebounds. Zuri Frost added 11 points, six rebounds and four assists.
The Lady Rams shot 21-of-63 (33.3 percent) from the field, three-of-14 (21.4 percent) from three-point range and nine-of-22 (40.9 percent) from the free throw line. ASU outrebounded the Lady Dragons 44-39 and recorded 11 steals, but also committed 25 turnovers.
Lane was led by Addie McNeely, who scored a game-high 18 points. Tashara Jones tallied 12 points, seven rebounds and four assists.
The Lady Dragons shot 23-of-54 (42.6 percent) from the field, four-of-12 (33.3 percent) from three-point range and 12-of-18 (66.7 percent) from the free throw line.
Albany State will return to action on Jan. 7 when the Lady Rams host Spring Hill College in an SIAC league contest.