MORROW, Ga. -- The Miles women's basketball team completed its historic mission of winning a third consecutive conference title, taking out Lane 59-52 to win the 2025 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Tournament presented by Toyota. The Lady Bears (25-5) become the program since Fort Valley State from 2000-03 to win three consecutive SIAC titles.

The game was tied at 24 at the half after Miles squandered what was a 12-point lead at the end of the first quarter. Lane (22-6) would take the lead on a bucket from Lauren Lain to start the third quarter but Samarian Franklin drained a 3-pointer at the 7:17 mark to put Miles back in front 28-26. That was part of a 9-0 run which included two free throws from Franklin, and a bucket by Mya Millner (six points, three rebounds) on a sweet assist from Franklin that turned into a three-point play that pushed the Miles advantage to 33-26 with six minutes left in the period.

The Lady Bears would not trail again.

Lane closed the deficit to five points at the end of the third quarter but Makayla Rieves had a big fourth quarter to keep the Dragons at bay. She followed a Shannon Niles (10 points, two steals) basket with one of her own to give Miles a 50-41 lead with under eight minutes left. Rieves then added baskets on consecutive possession, the last one coming with 2:31 remaining to keep the Lady Bears on top at 54-46.

The Dragons had one final hope after cutting the deficit to four points but Nayla Wesley's three-point play with 1:32 left extinguished the Dragons. Franklin was able to dribble out the clock and begin the celebration for the Lady Bears, who will play in their third straight NCAA South Region Tournament next week. The opponent will be announced when the bracket is released on Sunday night.

Franklin scored 12 points and added four assists and was named the Tournament Most Valuable Player. Rieves (11 points, 15 rebounds, four blocks) and Wesley  (nine points, seven rebounds) joined her on the All-Tournament Team.