WILBERFORCE, Ohio — Central State University women's basketball earned a hard-fought and much-needed conference win on Saturday afternoon, topping Fort Valley State 66–63 inside Beacom–Lewis Gymnasium. The victory moves the Marauders to 2–8 overall and 1–7 in SIAC play, while handing the Wildcats their seventh straight loss.
The game featured four ties and just one lead change, with CSU taking control in the second half behind a balanced offensive attack and key defensive stops down the stretch.
MADDICKES AND WILLIAMS LEAD THE CHARGE
Freshman standout Ashyia Maddickes delivered her best performance of the season, scoring 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting while adding 7 rebounds and a steal. Maddickes was dominant in the paint, finishing through contact and providing consistent interior scoring when CSU needed it.
Junior guard Ma'Kayla Williams matched the energy, pouring in 18 points and hitting two key three-pointers in the second quarter to help the Marauders gain momentum. Williams also added 2 assists and 2 steals while playing a team-high 32 minutes.
CAGE, BOND AND WALKER PROVIDE SPARK
Off the bench, Calyanna Cage gave CSU a huge lift with 11 points, including a series of aggressive drives and free throw makes that helped the Marauders hold off Fort Valley's late push.
Kierra Bond added 7 points and 3 rebounds, while Kennedy Walker contributed 3 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks in one of her most complete games of the season.
A STRONG SECOND HALF SEALS THE WIN
After trailing 18–11 at the end of the first quarter, the Marauders responded with a 24-point second quarter and shot 54.5% from the field in the fourth to close out the game.
CSU's defensive presence was equally important. The Marauders forced 20 turnovers, converting them into 21 points—a key factor in a game decided by just three.
Central State also controlled the glass, winning the rebounding battle 38–35 and collecting 12 offensive boards.
TEAM STATISTICS
- FG%: 42.9%
- 3PT: 3-of-9
- FT: 15-of-20 (75%)
- Points in the Paint: 36
- Fast Break Points: 14
- Bench Points: 23
UP NEXT
The Marauders travel to Lewis for a non-conference game on Dec. 17 before getting a few days off for the holidays.
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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.