Atlanta, GA- The Lady Wildcats of Fort Valley State University (22-9) are back on top of the SIAC, with a 69-54 win over Miles College Lady Bears (21-8), to capture the 2011 SIAC Women’s Basketball Championship. The win gave Coach Lonnie Bartley his 10th SIAC title. Today’s championship gives him and the Lady Wildcats their 2nd in the past three years.
Holding on to a slim two point halftime lead, the Lady Wildcats went on a 12-4 run to push the lead to double-digits 12 points, with 12:31 left in the game. After a Miles time out Fort Valley State went on another 6-2 run for their largest lead of the contest 14 points, 53-39. The Lady Bears went on a run of their own to slice the Lady Wildcats lead to seven points 53-46 with 6:45 left. Fort Valley quickly answered with a 6-3 run of their own to forge ahead by 10 points (57-49) with 3:17 left. Miles’ gave it one more surge cutting the Lady Wildcats lead back to seven points 59-52 with 3:07 remaining. That would be as close as Miles would come the rest of the way, as Fort Valley cruised the rest of the way to the 69-54 victory.
In a closely contested first half, there were four ties and two lead changes, before Miles College found themselves enjoying their largest lead of the game, eight points, 28-20 at the 4:18 mark in the opening half. But the nine time tournament champions Fort Valley State University, ended the half on a 13-3 run for a two point halftime lead 33-31.
Miles College was led by Toccara Charles with a game high 17 points. No other Lady Bear scored in double-figures.
Yasheeka Jones, led a trio of players in double-figures for Fort Valley with 13 points. Brandi Haynes tallied 12 points, as tournament MVP Kendra Evans finished with 10 points.
The Lady Wildcats earned a spot in the NCAA II South Regional Tournament next week, with the opponent and time to be announced Sunday evening.
SIAC Women's All-Tournament Team
Kendra Evans, Fort Valley State
Sammeika Thomas, Miles
Jasmine Birdsong, Fort Valley State
Cortney Matthewis, Kentucky State
Jamila McKinnis, Stillman
Tournament MVP: Kendra Evans, Fort Valley State
Coach of the Tournament: Lonnie Bartley, Fort Valley State