by Robert Freeman

Created on: December 30, 2009   Last Updated: December 31, 2009

When thinking about dominant or even average NCAA Women’s Division I basketball teams the Savannah State University Lady Tigers is not one of them and for good reason. This historically black university located in Savannah, Georgia just recently made the move to Division I basketball after playing in Division II for 19 years. The Lady Tigers were a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SAIC) from 1982-2001 and had its most success in the 1990s but even that was limited success.

During its time as a Division II school Savannah State only made the Division II tournament once where it was soundly defeated 89-67 by Delta State University in 1995. That same 1995 team; arguably the best team Savannah State has ever had; led the nation in field goal percentage defense with a mark of 32.2%. Three years prior to this Savannah State graduated its best player of all time; Mabel Sanders; who is currently in the top ten all-time for many single-season and career statistics at the Division II level.

Following the 2000-2001 season Savannah State made the decision to move to Division I even though the team had very little success as a Division II team. The Lady Tigers entered the 2001-2002 season as an Independent and have never left that status as they continue to search for a conference that best fits their school and one that will actually take such a sub-par team into its fold. Currently the team is entering its 29th season and as of December 30, 2009 has posted an all-time record of 314 wins and 475 losses for a dismal winning percentage of .398.

The Lady Tigers' first season in Division I set the tone for the seasons to follow as the team posted a 4-24 record with the team’s best win coming over North Carolina A&T by 10 points. The next season saw a 5-22 record but the 2003-2004 was the season that put Savannah State into the Division I record books. The team finished with an improved 6-20 record and a best win against Louisiana-Lafayette at 49-45 but a loss to Florida State on November 23, 2003 is one that the school will always remember. On that day the Lady Tigers posted the record for fewest points scored in a half at the Division I level with three total points. This dismal performance still holds in the record books and is most likely one that will stand for some time.

Savannah State’s first true “marquee” win came in the 2004-2005 season when they beat Conference USA’s East Carolina University 62-56. Unfortunately this was the only bright spot for the next two years as Savannah State went on to post a horrible 10-46 record during that span. The 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 seasons are a bright spot in the team’s short Division I history though and have been by far the most successful seasons for the school at any level minus that 1995 team. Over the two seasons the Lady Tigers were able to post a 27-32 record and signs of a possible improvement in play had fans excited but unfortunately that excitement was short lived as the 2008-2009 season and a 9-22 record showed that Savannah State was still the same old team everyone has come to expect.

So far the 2009-2010 season has not been all that bad for Savannah State as they have posted an 8-7 record but the marquee win thus far was a 54-49 victory over Stetson; something not really to brag about. The rest of the season is in the Lady Tigers hands as they have the ability to post their best record in a long time and they only need 7 wins to ensure the first above .500 season since the 1990s. This author will not hold his breath but possibly the Savannah State Lady Tigers could post their best season in a very long time and possibly show that they are indeed improving.

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