Here is a Day 2 recap of the 2011 SIAC Basketball Tournament:
#3 Miles Lady Bears vs. #6 Tuskegee Tigerettes
Day two of the 78th Annual Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Basketball Tournament was the start of quarterfinal action. In women’s play, the number three seed Lady Bears of Miles College began tournament play after a first round bye. In a 2 p.m. match up at Forbes Arena on the Morehouse College campus, the Lady Bears met the number six seed Tigerettes of Tuskegee University who advanced to the quarterfinals after an opening round win over Claflin University.
The quarterfinal meeting was the third of the season between the teams. During the regular season, the Lady Bears defeated the Tigerettes on both occasions.
At the start of this game it appeared that the Lady Bears would easily claim a sweep of the Tigerettes this season. An opening 11-0 scoring run by the Lady Bears stunned the Tigerettes who did not score their first points until the 14:08 mark in the first half.
After trailing 11-2, the Tigerettes started to elevate their play and made a charge at the early Lady Bear lead. With 12:34 remaining in the half, Tuskegee cut the Miles lead to 15-8. At the 10 minute mark, the Lady Bear lead was reduced to three points, 17-14. With 8:49 left, the Tigerettes tied the game at 20 points each. With seven minutes remaining, the Tigerettes claimed their first lead of the game, 23-21. Along with that change of lead also went the notion that this game would be an easy win for either team.
At the intermission, the Lady Bears maintained a 35-33 lead.
For the first 11 minutes of the second half the score still reflected the closeness of the game. It wasn’t until the nine minute mark that the Lady Bears created some separation by opening up an eight point lead, 55-47. With 4:08 left, the Lady Bears led 59-54. After a Lady Bear three point basket with 3:27 left, Miles led by seven points, 62-55.
With one minute left, after a missed Tuskegee shot, the Lady Bears scored a lay up in transition with 44 seconds left to make the score 64-59. Tuskegee quickly ran the length of the floor and got a lay up to cut the Lady Bear lead to 64-61. With Tuskegee forced to foul with 18 seconds left, two free throws by the Lady Bears sealed the Miles win and sent them into the semifinals with a 66-63 win.
Ashley Orphey and Sammeika Thomas led the Lady Bears in scoring with 17 points each. Toccara Charles finished with 16 points. For Tuskegee, Keyonnia Cook had a game-high 22 points and Tequila Martin added 11 points.
The Lady Bears will meet the winner of the Albany State University versus Stillman College quarterfinal match up. The semifinal game will take place at 2 p.m. (3/4/11) in the Forbes Arena on the Morehouse College campus.
#2 Stillman Tigers vs. #7 Claflin Panthers
Atlanta, Ga.—In game six of the SIAC Basketball Men’s Tournament, the no. 2 seed, Stillman Tigers defeated the no. 7 seed, Claflin University Panthers 70-58 at L.S. Epps Gymnasium on the campus of Clark Atlanta University.
With this win, Stillman improves to 21-6 overall and will advance in the tournament. Claflin falls to 12-16 and was eliminated from the tournament.
LaJay Sears led Stillman with 18 points on 6-12 shooting from the field and 2-2 from the free throw line. Sharod Minus followed with 17 points. Rakee Anderson chipped in 10 points.
Efe Uwadiae-Odigie led Claflin with 16 points on 6-11 shooting from the field. Voyland Cooke followed with 14 points.
Stillman trailed 29-31 at halftime. Stillman connected on 34.5 percent of the shot attempts in the first half, while Lane shot 34.6 percent. In the second half, Stillman outscored Lane 41-27. The Tigers shot 48.4 percent in the final period and 41.7 percent for the game. Claflin shot 34.8 percent in the second and 34.7 for the game.
The Tigers were out rebounded 50-40. Kevin Johnson led Stillman with 8 rebounds. Efe Uwadiae-Odigie had a game-high 11 to lead The Panthers.
The Tigers will play the winner of the Tuskegee University and Morehouse game on Friday at 8:00 p.m. (EST) at the Frank L. Forbes Arena on the campus of Morehouse College.
#2 Albany State Lady Rams vs. #7 Stillman Lady Tigers
Atlanta, Ga.—In game six of the SIAC Basketball Women’s Tournament, the no. 7 seed, Stillman Lady Tigers upset the no. 2 seed, Albany State University Lady Rams 66-64 at L.S. Epps Gymnasium on the campus of Clark Atlanta University.
With this win, Stillman improves to 16-11 overall and will advance to the semi-final. Albany falls to 17-12 and was eliminated from the tournament.
Jamila McKinnis led Stillman with 23 points on 11-15 shooting from the field, 8 rebounds, 4 blocks, 3 steals and 2 assists. Jasmon Hazley and Alecia Young had 13 points each.
Symone Wilkerson led Albany with 21 points. Callie Hamilton followed Wilkerson with 14 points. Quinette Johnson chipped in 10 points.
Stillman trailed 30-35 at the half. Stillman connected on 50.0 percent of the shot attempts in the first half, while Albany shot 30.8 percent. In the second half, Stillman outscored Albany 36-29. The Lady Tigers shot 53.8 percent in the final period and 52.0 percent for the game. Claflin shot 27.0 percent in the second half and 28.9 for the game.
The Lady Tigers grabbed 35 rebounds. Quinette Johnson and Symone Wilkerson pulled down 7 each for Albany
The Tigers will play Miles College on Friday at 6:00 p.m. (EST) at the Frank L. Forbes Arena on the campus of Morehouse College.
#1 Benedict Tigers vs. #9 Paine Lions
The number seed Benedict Tigers defeated the number nine Paine Lions, 77-72, in the quarterfinal round of the 2011 SIAC Basketball Tournament at Morehouse’s Frank L. Forbes Arena.
The Tigers were lead by Xavier Collier, who led all scorers with 25 points. Marcus Goode, the SIAC Player of the Year, contributed 16 points and 11 rebounds. Mario Jordan led Paine with 14 points followed by Tony Baker with 13.
Benedict advances to the semifinals to take on the number four seed Clark Atlanta at Frank L. Forbes Arena at 4 p.m.
#1 Fort Valley State Lady Wildcats vs. #9 Lane Lady Dragons
The Fort Valley State Lady Wildcats defeated the Lane Lady Dragons in a rout, 86-63, at Frank L. Forbes Arena during the 2011 SIAC Tournament women’s quarterfinal action.
Kendra Evans led the way for the Lady Wildcats with a game-high 21 points followed by Jasmine Birdsong, who contributed 18 points and 12 rebounds. Shelice Crater and Natasha Farr led the Lane with 15 points each.
The top seed Lady Wildcats will advance to take on the number four seed Benedict at 2 p.m. at Frank L. Forbes at Morehouse College.
#4 Clark Atlanta Panthers vs. #5 Kentucky State Thorobreds
The Clark Atlanta Panthers advanced to the semifinals of the 2011 SIAC Men’s Basketball Tournament by defeating the Kentucky State Thorobreds, 81-62, at Epps Gymnasium.
The number four seed Panthers were led by Najee Lane with 18 points followed by David Brown, who contributed 17. Tony Johnson led all scorers with 22 points.
The Panthers advance to take on the top seed Benedict Tigers at Frank L. Forbes Arena. Game time is at 4 p.m.
#4 Benedict Lady Tigers vs. #5 Kentucky State Thorobrettes
The Lady Tigers of Benedict defeated the Kentucky State Thorobrettes, 58-50, in the quarterfinal round of the 2011 SIAC Basketball Tournament at Clark Atlanta’s L.S Epps Gymnasium.
Leading the way for Benedict were Santeria Grooms and Charvez Holmes, who both 12 points each. Kentucky State’s Cortney Matthewis led all scorers with 17 points.
Benedict will take on #1 seed Fort Valley State in the semifinals at 2p.m.
#3 Tuskegee Golden Tigers vs. #6 Morehouse Maroon Tigers
Atlanta, GA- The Golden Tigers of Tuskegee University (18-8) advances to the SIAC semi-finals with a 78-72 hard fought victory over the Maroon Tigers ( 14-13) of Morehouse College. The loss eliminated Morehouse from the tournament.
The game seemed to be well in hand as Tuskegee enjoyed a twelve point lead 62-50 with just under seven minutes remaining. But the Maroon Tigers had one more run in them, and managed to cut the Golden Tigers lead to four points 63-67 with 1:32 left on the clock. That would be as close as Morehouse would get the rest of the way. In the closing seconds Tuskegee went to the line and cashed in on crucial free-throws to put the game away 78-72.
The Maroon Tigers were led by Roderick Williams with 16 points, Daniyal Faquir 12 points, and Shawn Allen with 10 points.
Lorell Friend led Tuskegee with a game high 23 points. Andre’ Nelson scored 16 points, and Calvin Thomas added 14 points in the winning cause.
The win allowed Tuskegee University to advance and play Stillman College in the semi-final round at 8:00 pm tomorrow evening, in the Forbes Arena.