TIFTON — Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College played it close, but dropped two Southern States Athletic Conference games to Thomas University Saturday afternoon.

Thomas’ Night Hawks broke out of a 40-40 halftime tie to win over the Stallions, 93-72. The Fillies fell, 78-69.

ABAC’s women had awful luck Saturday.

Six seconds into the game and before the Fillies could even get into their initial offensive set, starter Emily Gamon was injured and did not return. Shakiria Chaney hurt an ankle with 4:30 remaining and also did not return.

At the time of her injury, Chaney had essentially been the entire Fillies’ offense, scoring 25 of their 61 points. Chaney had also played the entire contest to that point.

Up seven points when Chaney went down, Thomas reeled off the next five and ABAC went scoreless than next two minutes. When Faith Hillmon scored in the paint at 2:13, it was a 73-63 contest and too late for the Fillies to build any momentum.

Seconds after Gamon’s injury in the first quarter, the Lady Hawks took the lead on a jump shot by Aaliyah Ringold. Thomas netted the first eight points before Hillmon scored in the paint and Chaney hit a trey.

Thomas came up with the next five points, setting the tone for the game; every time ABAC got close, the visitors pulled away again.

After getting a close as 8-5, the Fillies couldn’t get closer than five the rest of the first period, that coming on a three-pointer that banked in from the top of the key by Zamiyah Hosley.

Jasmyn Studamire pushed Thomas ahead 10 early in the second frame, 29-19, but ABAC continued to hang around. Hillmon was extremely valuable in the paint for coming up with points, either from her strength from the post, or from the free throw line when fouled.

Hillmon’s offensive rebound with 42 seconds left resulted in two free throws, allowing the Fillies to be within striking distance at 42-33 at intermission.

ABAC had a long talk at the break, so long that head coach Chuck Wimberly’s charges had to sprint to be able to inbounds the ball to start the second half.

Chaney got them to seven again, going coast to coast on a defensive rebound. Ringold made two at the stripe at 8:12 for a 44-35 advantage, but ABAC responded with a mini-run, a layup by Reese Riddle and a three by Hosley and it was 44-40 at 6:30.

Ringold responded with a three and a two for Thomas and in 45 seconds, the Fillies were down nine again. The Lady Hawks held ABAC to four free throws in the last five minutes of the third to build their advantage to 61-48.

Chaney exploded again to begin the fourth, scoring nine points as the Fillies clawed back to 68-61. But Chaney went down with the injury after scoring on an offensive rebound and Thomas went back in command.

Both Chaney and Hillmon had double-doubles for ABAC Saturday. To go with her 25 points, Chaney had 11 rebounds. Hillmon had 13 points and 10 rebounds. Riddle and Hosley each scored eight points.

While Ringold was seemingly everywhere when Thomas needed her, she was one of four players in double-digits for the Night Hawks. Destiny Hill scored 16, Kennedy Collins had 14, with Ringold and Jamia Brown each contributing 8.

Fortunately, Chaney’s injury did not appear serious. She jogged on the baseline and later that evening was walking at the Tift County-Lowndes high school games.

ABAC is slated to play the University of Mobile Thursday at 5:30 p.m., the second in a five-game homestand. Life University comes in Saturday at noon, with Tennessee Southern here Jan. 16 and Blue Mountain Christian arriving Jan. 18. All are SSAC contests.

The Fillies are now 5-10 overall and 0-4 in the conference.