SAVANNAH, Ga. – Miles entered Saturday's championship game of the 2023 TIAA SIAC Basketball Championship presented by Cricket looking to complete its historic run this season with its first conference championship.

The Lady Bears fell behind early but stayed in the contest until the end. Ultimately, Tuskegee responded to all of Miles' challenges and won the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title, securing a 72-65 victory Saturday afternoon at Tiger Arena. The win capped a perfect run through the SIAC for the Golden Tigerettes (26-3), who have won 17 straight overall and took down every team in the league this season without a blemish – including all three against the Lady Bears (21-8). They now earn the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA National Tournament and – most likely – leaves Miles on the outside looking in.

While Tuskegee lead for nearly the entire contest, Miles seemed to have a response every time it looked as if they were about to be run out of the gym. The Golden Tigerettes led 12-5 midway through the first quarter and led by the same seven points with less than a minute remaining. But the Lady Bears scored five points in four seconds – a basket by Tederia Ashley (12 points, eight rebounds), then a steal and 3-pointer by Iemyiah Harris – to cut the deficit to two points.

Enter JuToreyia Willis, who took the inbounds pass and calmly swished a 3-pointer from beyond half court to maintain a 17-12 advantage at the end of the first quarter. Miles would score the first eight points of the second quarter to take its first – and only – lead but Tuskegee would storm right back, scoring nine straight points to go back in front.

The halftime advantage was 34-29 for Tuskegee but an 8-0 run gave the Golden Tigerettes their biggest lead, 44-33, with 5:55 left in the third quarter. But Miles responded with three consecutive 3-pointers, two by Harris (24 points) and the last by Feliah Greer (12 points, six rebounds, four assists), to cut the deficit to two points. The Lady Bears ultimately got to within a single point but Tuskegee still led 52-48 going into the fourth quarter.

The spread was still four points with eight minutes remaining before the Golden Tigerettes took control. Three straight baskets – the final two by Ashiala Jackson – put the lead back into double figures with five minutes left. A 3-ball by Willis with 3:43 left pushed the lead back to 65-54 and Miles never got closer than seven points.

Willis scored 25 points and was named Tournament Most Valuable Player. Jackson (12 points, nine rebounds) and Brittney Bolin (15 points) were also named to the All-Tournament Team, along with Harris and Greer from Miles, and Kadijah Smith of Edward Waters.