Sammeika Thomas (SIAC All-Tournament Team)
NO. 3 SEED LADY BEARS FALL TO NO.1 LADY WILDCATS FOR SIAC TOURNAMENT TITLE
ATLANTA, GA – Junior
Toccara Charles scored 17 points to lead the Lady Bears (21-8) as they fell to Fort Valley State University Lady Wildcats (22-9) in the SIAC Women's Basketball Championship game 69-54 today at Frank Forbes Arena. The Lady Wildcats walked away with their tenth SIAC title.
Holding on to a slim two point halftime lead, Fort Valley State went on a 12-4 run pushing the lead to double-digits with 12:31 left in the game. After a Lady Bear time-out, the Lady Wildcats went on another 6-2 run for the largest lead of the contest with 14 points (53-39). Miles would go 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 the Lady Bears would get, as the Lady Wildcats cruised to victory 69-54.
In a closely contested first half, there were four ties and two lead changes, before the Lady Bears found themselves enjoying their largest lead of the game 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.
Charles hit 5-of-11 shots from behind the arch and went 6-of-13 from the floor. Junior
Sammeika Thomas and senior
Ashley Orphey scored nine points apice. Junior
Brandy Gillespie grabbed a team-high seven rebounds and Thomas added six more.
Yasheeka Jones, led a trio of players in double-figures for Fort Valley with 13 points. Brandi Haynes tallied 12 points and Kendra Evans finished with 10 points.
Miles finished the season with the best record ever 21-8 overall and 16-6 in the SIAC. Thomas was named to the SIAC All-Tournament Team.
