A strong second quarter helped Miles earn a 60-50 win over Albany State in a non-conference battle Thursday night at Knox-Windham Gymnasium. The victory send the Lady Bears (18-7) into the SIAC Tournament next week with some momentum after winning their final two games of the regular season.

Miles got off to an extremely slow start, going scoreless for more than six minutes to start the game. But the defense held serve and when Breah McGrady (nine points) knocked down a 3-pointer with 3:46 left in the opening quarter, the Lady Bears only trailed by just four points. Albany State went into the second quarter ahead 12-9 but that is where Miles took over.

Two minutes into the second quarter, a bucket by Jakera Ellerbee (six points) gave Miles its first lead. The Lady Rams (8-18) would respond with a basket on their ensuing possession to go back in front, but it would be the only field goal Albany State would make in the period. Meanwhile, the Lady Bears would score the next 13 points to take control. Tomesia Staten knocked down a 3-ball to give Miles the lead for good and the team would allow just two free throws over the last seven-and-a-half minutes to take a 26-16 lead into the half.

The Lady Bears came out hot to start the second half, scoring the first nine points. Staten (six points, five rebounds, four steals) connected on another 3-pointer and a steal and layup by Camryn London (team-high 11 points) had the Miles lead at 35-16. The Lady Rams would answer with their own nine-point spurt but the 10-point advantage remained for the Lady Bears going into the fourth. An 11-2 run in the final quarter, punctuated by a London 3-pointer, gave the Lady Bears a 20-point advantage midway through the period. A late surge by Albany State would not be enough as Miles won by double digits for the 10th time this season.

Kashay Hankerson scored 15 points to lead Albany State. Nadia Cathey (10 points, six rebounds, five assists, three assists), Deresia Randle (10 points, six rebounds) and Imani Williams (four points, 14 rebounds, seven assists, two blocks) helped lead the way for the Lady Bears, who will play as the West Division No. 3 seed in the SIAC Tournament next week.