Golden Bears Win Third Straight, Take Down West Alabama
Box Score
Birmingham, AL -- Miles struggled shooting the ball in its home opener but used its defense to hold West Alabama to just one field goal over the last 4:40 to earn its third consecutive win with a 59-56 victory over the Tigers.
Ashley Steger came off the bench to score a team-high 13 points for the Lady Golden Bears (3-1). She scored the team's last five points – including two free throws with seven seconds remaining – to seal the victory.
UWA (2-1) fell behind early but took control with a 23-6 run over an 11-minute stretch in the first half. The Tigers scored 14 points off 12 Miles turnovers and led by as many as 10 points with less than four minutes left in the period. But an 8-2 run to close the half cut the deficit to 31-27 at the break.
The Miles deficit was seven points with less than five minutes remaining before taking over down the stretch. Steger started the run with a 3-pointer, one of just two on the night by the Lady Golden Bears. Wendy Miller (nine points, five rebounds in 15 minutes) scored on an offensive putback, got a steal – one of 15 UWA turnovers in the second half – and converted a 3-point play to give MC a 54-52 advantage with 2:57 left – its first lead since midway through the first half and one it would not relinquish.
Samirah Ali had 10 points, four assists and three steals and Tiffany Stephens came off the bench to grab 12 rebounds along with two points and a blocked shot to pace the Lady Golden Bears. Quintinette Odom (16 points) and Malaka Johnson (12 points) were the top scorers for West Alabama.
Miles is back in action Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. when it hosts Livingstone College (NC).
