SAVANNAH, Ga. -- Despite holding a double-digit lead entering the fourth quarter, Miles needed a late basket and some defensive stops in the final minutes to hold off Clark Atlanta 56-54 Friday afternoon at Tiger Arena. The win pushes the Lady Bears into the semifinals of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament on Saturday, where they will face Savannah State. Tip-off is scheduled for 9 a.m.

A three-point play by Trinity Jones (11 points) allowed CAU to tie the game at 54 with 2:24 left. But on the ensuing possession, Tederia Ashley (six points, six rebounds) took a feed from Imani Williams and scored at the basket to put the Lady Bears back in front. From there, Miles pitched a shutout as the Panthers missed all four of their shots over the last 90 seconds. On its final possession, CAU's Atreonia Garner had a point-blank at the basket before Williams and Madison Lee rotated to shutdown the easy look. The contested shot came up short and the Lady Bears celebrated as the buzzer sounded, finishing a sweep of the three-game season series and advancing to the conference semis for the third time in the last four tournaments.

The Lady Bears led by 14 early in the third quarter after India Brown (five points)  converted a three-point play. A fadeaway 3-pointer by Nakedria Turner (five points) and a free throw from Kiyara Howard-Garza in the final minutes of the period gave Miles a 45-34 advantage heading into the fourth and things looked under control. Even after Feliah Greer scored with 8:34 left, the CAU deficit was still 10 points. But the Panthers had a final spurt in them and they took Miles on the crazy ride.

Eight straight points, with all of them coming right at the basket, got Clark Atlanta right back in the game in less than two minutes. Williams, though, played a big part in stemming the tide. She scored on Miles' next possession, then got a steal and assist as she fired ahead to Turner for a fast break hoop that spread the Lady Bears advantage to 53-49 with 4:29 remaining. The redshirt junior was a catalyst all over the floor against CAU, with 12 points, nine rebounds, four assists, four steals and two blocked shots. She led the Lady Bears in each of those categories.

Miles had a lot of cushion to work with throughout the game after racing out to a big lead. Down by two early, the Lady Bears scored 13 straight points to forge in front. Iemyiah Harris hit a 3-ball to jump-start the run and Nuriyah Harris drained another one to close it out for a 15-4 lead. Despite not making a field goal over the final 8:21 of the opening quarter, CAU trailed just 15-12 after making all eight of its free throws. But the Panthers would never hold the lead for the rest of the contest.

Corianna Evans scored 17 points and faith Bland added 10 to lead Clark Atlanta. Greer and Harris each scored 11 points for the Lady Bears.