NORFOLK, Va., March 7, 2017--Lauren Moss scored 15 points as Savannah State defeated Morgan State 59-51 in the first round of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Tournament Tuesday afternoon.

Kenyata Hendrix added 12 points and Rhianna Warren 10 as the Tigers (12-18) earned the right to face regular season champion Bethune-Cookman in the quarterfinals Wednesday at noon. Morgan State finished 9-21.

The Tigers led from start to finish after jumping out to leads of 4-0 and 9-2. They shot 64 percent from the field (16-25) to lead by as many as 18 at 46-28 on a Tiyonda Davis three-pointer with 3:38 remaining in the third quarter.

Morgan State cut it to nine points with 6:37 remaining on a Zuri White basket that made it 48-39 and two again with 2:41 left on a Tykryah Williams lay-up, but could come no closer until the game's final seconds.

Moss, Hendrix and Warren were a combined 6-10 from three-point range for the Tigers.

Braennan Farrar had 12 points for Morgan State, who made just one three-pointer and was 14-30 from the free throw line.