Hardy's double-double lifts Miles past Knights
Box Score Miles has been susceptible to slow starts this season and that did not change Monday night against Middle Georgia College.
Still, an early eight-point hole did not keep the Lady Golden Bears (4-2) from winning their second straight game and for the third time in eight days.
Morgan Hardy had 12 points and 13 rebounds and the Miles defense forced 27 turnovers and held the Knights (3-6) under 32 percent shooting from the floor in a 63-53 win at Knox-Windham Gymnasium.
After ending Saturday's win over Clark Atlanta without a basket for the final eight minutes, Miles started Monday's game in similar fashion. Middle Georgia opened up with a 9-1 run as the Golden Bears went nearly seven minutes without a bucket.
But
Tierra Williams changed all of that with a 3-minute barage that gave Miles the lead for good. She made four consecutive baskets - including three 3-pointers - and scored the Golden Bears' final 12 points of the period. Her third triple gave Miles a 14-11 lead and at the end of the opening quarter, the advantage was 15-12.
Javonne Brown was the star of the second quarter, scoring nine of her 11 points in the period to help the Lady Golden Bears open a nine-point cushion at one point but settle for a 34-29 halftime lead. The Knights would fall behind by as many as 10 in the third quarter but Miles went cold again from the field, scoring one basket over a five-and-a-half minute stretch to tie the game at 43. The game did not have to be that close, as Miles made a ton of trips to the free throw line. But missing half of the 16 attempts did not help. Still, Hardy was the ringleader in the parade to the charity stripe, making 5-of-7 to break the tie for a 48-43 lead going to the fourth.
Middle Georgia cut the deficit to one ealy in the fourth quarter but
Torborsha Holley gave the Lady Golden Bears the room they would need. She scored six straight points, including a backbreaking 3-pointer less than two minutes into the period to push the Miles lead to 54-47. The Knights would not get closer than five points the rest of the way.
Tascianna Taylor had a game-high 17 points while TyAsia Grayer had 11 points and 12 rebounds for Middle Georgia. Williams scored 14 points, Holley and Brown each had 11 and
Brittney Smith had seven points, seven assists and five steals for Miles, which is back in action on Saturday when it travels to Lane College.Tip-off is at 2 p.m.
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