MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- The Miles women's basketball team earned its first road win of the season, using a strong defensive effort in the second half to secure an 84-42 win over LeMoyne-Owen at Bruce-Johnson Hall. It's the fourth consecutive win for the Lady Bears (5-1, 4-0 SIAC), who have now won 9-of-10 against the Lady Magicians (1-3, 1-3).

A 3-pointer by Tawana Nevels (4-of-4 shooting, 12 points in 14 minutes) - her first career attempt from beyond the arc - gave Miles a 5-2 lead at the 6:42 mark of the opening quarter and the Lady Bears would not trail again. But the game remained close for most of the first half. A three-point play by Mya Millner put the Lady Bears up by 11 in the second quarter but a bucket by Mashanti Saddler right before the horn cut the LOC deficit to 30-26 at the half.

The Lady Bears defense, though, quickly squashed any thoughts of an upset victory for LeMoyne-Owen. The Lady Magicians missed their first four shots from the field and turned the ball over seven times in the first four minutes of the third quarter. Meanwhile, Miles was quickly converting those miscues into points as its scored 15 times during that stretch. Six different players got into the scoring column, including 3-balls from Jaylen Pleasant and Samarian Franklin to give the Lady Bears a 45-26 lead.

Less than a minute later, Franklin (career-high 17 points, five rebounds, three assists) knocked down another triple to push the advantage beyond 20 points for the first time. A third bomb from downtown right before the horn gave Miles a 30-point quarter and the Lady Bears held a 60-35 advantage with a quarter remaining. Unfortunately, it got worse for LeMoyne-Owen. Miles scored the first 10 points of the fourth quarter, capped by a three-point play by Jalyn Shelby (11 points, six rebounds), for a 70-35 advantage less than three minute into the final stanza.

The Lady Magicians made just four field goals in the second half and shot 20 percent from the field while turning the ball over 19 times. Meanwhile, Miles was connecting at a 55 percent clip from the field to turn a competitive game into a blowout. Nayla Wesley had 12 points and six rebounds while Madison Lee and Millner each had eight points for Miles, which plays at Shorter on Dec. 6. Tip-off is scheduled for noon.



Janara Williams had 10 points, six rebounds and four assists to lead LeMoyne-Owen.