By: FVSU Office of Sports Information
Tonight's basketball action from Fort Valley State University's HPE Arena was a make up for games originally scheduled for January 10th but postponed due to inclement weather in the middle Georgia area. Tonight, with near perfect conditions for the month of February, the Wildcats of Fort Valley State University (FVSU) hosted the Panthers of Claflin University. This would be the second meeting of the year between the schools.
Lady Wildcats Basketball (Lady Wildcats 78, Lady Panthers 58)
In the earlier match up this season, the Lady Wildcats defeated the Lady Panthers, 72-54 in Orangeburg, SC. Entering tonight's game, FVSU was ranked second in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) with a 12-4 conference record and a 14-8 overall record. The Lady Panthers began play 8-13 overall and 6-11 in conference action.
Despite the unseasonably warm weather outside, the Lady Wildcats had a cold start inside the HPE Arena. Almost four minutes elapsed before they got their first basket. Trailing early, the Lady Wildcats eventually thawed out. With 8:02 remaining in the first half, the Lady Wildcats took their first lead of the game, 19-18. The next trip down the floor, the Lady Wildcats got a three point basket from Davina High and claimed their largest lead of the half, 22-18. By the time the team's entered the intermission, the Lady Wildcats had stretched their lead to 10 points, 36-26.
In the first 20 minutes, the Lady Wildcats made 15 of 40 shots (37.5%) while the Lady Panthers converted 10 of 36 attempts (27.8%). Although Claflin did a better job of rebounding in the first half (30 to 24), FVSU won the turnover battle limiting their mistakes to just six compared to 14 for the Lady Panthers.
The Lady Wildcats took advantage of the start of the second half to expand their lead. With 17:30 left FVSU led 41-28. With the application of full court pressure by FVSU, the Lady Panthers were limited to one field goal in the initial three and one-half minutes of the second half. By the 15:29 mark, the FVSU lead was up to 15 points, 46-31.
After a 10-2 scoring run, with 11:50 left FVSU built a 23 point lead, 56-33. It was a lead that Claflin never really seriously challenged. The Lady Wildcats completed the regular season sweep of the Lady Panthers with a 78-58 win.
The win was the 15th of the season for the Lady Wildcats who are now 15-8 overall and 13-4 in the conference. Kendra Evans led FVSU in scoring with 22 points. KaDeidra Freeland finished with 12 points and Davina High contributed 10 points. As a team, the Lady Wildcats shot 41% from the field (31 of 75) and collected 50 rebounds.
The Lady Wildcats travel to Albany, Ga. on Saturday (Feb. 12th) for a 3 p.m. clash with the Lady Rams of Albany State University.
Wildcats Basketball (Panthers 72, Wildcats 66)
After Tuesday night's electrifying win over Morehouse College in the HPE Arena, the Wildcats of Fort Valley State University (FVSU) were looking to make it back-to-back wins in their meeting tonight against the Panthers of Claflin University. The Wildcats entered play ranked eighth in the SIAC with a 7-15 overall record and a conference mark of 7-11. The Panthers were ranked ninth with an 8-13 overall mark and 7-12 conference record.
In the first meeting in December, the Panthers won 71-58. So in addition to seeking consecutive wins, the Wildcats were also seeking a bit of revenge against the Panthers. At the mid-point of the first half the Wildcats held a one point lead, 11-10. With 5:57 left, after a Jeremy Sledge three point basket, FVSU still led by one point, 20-19. Moments later, two free throws by Rashad Thomas gave the Wildcats a 22-19 edge.
With 3:09 left, Sledge broke a 22-22 tie with a mid-range jumper. With the game tied at 24 with 1:59 remaining in the half, the Wildcats got inside baskets from Nigel Domineck on two successive trips down the floor followed by a steal and lay up by Orr to take a 30-24 lead. At the end of the half, FVSU led 30-27.
The start of the second up half began with a Brandon Davey jump shot to extend the Wildcat lead to 32-27. With 17:58 remaining, Orr knocked down a three point shot. That was followed by a steal by Sledge and a lay up and the FVSU lead was quickly up to 10 points, 37-27. Moments later, another Wildcat steal followed by a Davey jump shot gave the Wildcats a 39-27. Meanwhile, the Panthers had yet to score in the second half.
Things got considerably tighter near the 13:30 mark though. After a 13-2 scoring run by the Panthers, the Wildcat lead decreased to one point, 41-40. With 12:30 remaining, Claflin took a 43-41 lead.
The teams were tied at 47 with 9:36 left. At the 6:58 mark, they remained tied at 51. After a time out, the Panthers made a mini run and forged ahead, 56-51. With 4:15 remaining, the Panther lead was up to 62-54. At the two minute mark, the Wildcats had cut the Panther lead to six points, 66-60.
With only seconds remaining, and trailing 69-62, the Wildcats caught a break when Orr was fouled on a three point shot attempt. He sank two of the free throws and on the miss of the third Davey got the rebound and a lay up to cut the Panther lead to 69-66. However, that would be as close as the Wildcats would get. The Panthers were able to hold off FVSU for a 72-66 win.
With the loss the Wildcats fall to 7-16 overall and 7-12 in conference play. They return to action on Saturday (Feb. 12th) at 5 p.m. in Albany, Ga. when they meet the Golden Rams of Albany State University.
-Wildcats Athletics-
