MORROW, Ga. — When you're looking to make history, what's five extra minutes?
Miles needed the extra time Friday afternoon against
Clark Atlanta in the semifinals of the SIAC Women's Basketball Tournament presented by Toyota, taking a 75-72 decision over the Panthers in overtime at The Arena at Southlake. The No. 24-ranked Lady Bears (24-5) became the first team to make an appearance in the SIAC title game in four straight years since Benedict (2014-17) and set the program record for most wins in a single season, topping the record set two seasons ago.
It was not an easy ride to the championship game for the West Division's top seed, having to get off the mat after squandering a 15-point advantage and giving up a game-tying basket with 4.7 seconds left in regulation.
Samarian Franklin had a chance to win it at the buzzer but her long-range three banged off the back iron to force the extra period.
East No. 2 seed CAU (18-11) led for the first time, 66-64, with 4:18 left in overtime on an Atreonia Garner layup. Miles got single free throws from
Mya Millner and
Nayla Wesley to tie the game. Then,
Madison Lee got a steal, pushed it ahead to Franklin, who found
Makayla Rieves (eight points, team-high 12 rebounds) free for a bucket to put the Lady Bears ahead 68-66. The Lady Panthers would tie the game on two free throws but Franklin - who is growing into the closer's role, even as a freshman - delivered a bucket on the ensuing possession to put Miles back ahead by two with 1:45 left.
The Lady Bears would not trail again.
Franklin would hit 5-of-6 free throws down the stretch to seal the victory. The SIAC Freshman of the Year finished with a game-high 24 points and eight assists.
The first quarter was controlled by the Lady Bears. They never trailed, led by as many as 13 points thanks to an 11-1 run, and found themselves on top 23-13 after the first 10 minutes. Despite leading 37-29 at halftime, the entire lead was extinguished at the start of the fourth quarter on a layup by Trinity Jones. But
Jaylen Pleasant (nine points) came back down and swirled in a 3-ball to put the Lady Bears back on top 53-50 with 8:47 to go in regulation. CAU would get a 3-point play on the ensuing possession but Franklin's short jumper in the lane at the 7:49 mark put Miles back on top.
From there, Miles never lost the lead. But with a couple of chances to close out the victory in regulation, the Lady Bears faltered. Franklin missed the second of two free throws that would've put Miles ahead by five with 20 seconds left. Then,
Jalyn Shelby missed both of her freebies with 11 seconds left that led directly to the game-tying layup by Jones.
Garner (21 points, 14 rebounds) and Aanisah Moncrief (19 points, seven rebounds) were the top offensive performers for Clark Atlanta. Wesley (12 points, 10 rebounds) and Lee (11 points, 11 rebounds) had double-doubles for Miles, who will play for the title against Lane on Saturday at 3 p.m.
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ABOUT THE SOUTHERN INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE (SIAC)
The SIAC is a NCAA athletic conference consisting primarily of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) with headquarters in downtown Atlanta, Georgia. The SIAC includes 15 member institutions (Albany State University, Allen University, Benedict College, Central State University, Clark Atlanta University, Edward Waters University, Fort Valley State University, Kentucky State University, Lane College, LeMoyne-Owen College, Miles College, Morehouse College, Savannah State University, Spring Hill College, and Tuskegee University), which are located within a contiguous seven-state footprint (Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee and Ohio). The SIAC sponsors nine men's and seven women's sports and is a proud member of the NCAA Division II. For more information, visit
www.thesiac.com.