By: FVSU Office of Sports Information
Tonight's games from the Benjamin E. Mays Health & Recreation Complex on Benedict College campus, were the last regular season road games for the Wildcats of Fort Valley State University (FVSU). Facing the Tigers of Benedict College, the games tonight were Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) contests and this was the second meeting between the programs this season.
Lady Wildcats Basketball (Lady Wildcats 74, Tigerettes 69)
After Tuesday's win over the Lady Lions of Paine College, the Lady Wildcats of FVSU found themselves tied for first place in the conference. A win tonight, coupled with an Albany State University loss to Paine College, would give FVSU sole possession of first place with just two games remaining before the start of the 78th Annual SIAC Basketball Tournament (March 2-5, 2011).
In their first match up this season, the Lady Wildcats took a 65-51 win over Benedict in the HPE Arena on the FVSU campus. In tonight's match up in Columbia SC, the Lady Wildcats took advantage of their full court defensive pressure and transition scoring to the take the early lead. The quick tempo of the game favored FVSU, who led by ten points with 7:58 remaining, 32-22.
With 4:38 left in the half, Brandi Haynes hit a corner three-pointer as the Lady Wildcats stretched their lead to 13 points, 37-24. On the next trip down the floor, Haynes was fouled and converted both free throws. After a Tigerette turnover, Tamara Andrews scored on a lay up to make it a 41-24 FVSU lead. After a 9-2 scoring run by the Tigerettes to end the first half, the Lady Wildcat lead was 43-33 at halftime.
The second half of play started with a 7-0 scoring run by FVSU which forced a Tigerette time out with 17:06 remaining. After almost three minutes of play, Benedict had yet to score and the Lady Wildcats had extended their lead to 51-33. After the time out, the run continued for FVSU. Two quick scores and the lead was now 55-33 and the Tigerettes had gone nearly four minutes without a score.
The Tigerettes finally got a three point basket with 14:39 remaining to break a 12-0 scoring run by the Lady Wildcats. After a FVSU time out with 13:21 left, the Lady Wildcats held a 57-40 lead. At the 9:37 mark, FVSU led 60-42.
As the Tigerettes made a charge at the lead with an 11-4 scoring run, the FVSU lead tightened to 64-53 with 4:03 remaining. After a time out, the Tigerettes got a steal and a lay up to make the score 68-60. On the ensuing inbound play, a jump ball call gave the ball back to Benedict. After a foul and two free throws, the FVSU lead was cut to six points, 68-62 with two minutes left.
While the Tigerettes were able to narrow the deficit to three points, time derailed their comeback effort as the Lady Wildcats were able to hold on for a 74-69 win.
As the Lady Wildcats awaited news of the outcome of the Albany State, Paine College game, the win assured FVSU that after tonight's play, they would, at minimum, continue to share the conference lead.
The Lady Wildcats were led in scoring by Jasmine Birdsong who finished with a game-high 20 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. FVSU also got double figure scoring from KaDeidra Freeland and Shytina Harley who finished with 13 points each. Yasheeka Jones added 11 points.
The Lady Wildcats are now 17-9 overall and 15-5 in SIAC play. They return to action on Saturday night (Feb. 19th) in the 3rd Annual Pink Zone Basketball Game in support of breast cancer awareness when they host the Lady Panthers of Clark Atlanta University at 6 p.m.
Wildcats Basketball (Tigers 62, Wildcats 47)
In their first meeting this season the Tigers of Benedict College made it look easy against the Wildcats with a 73-48 win on the FVSU campus. Tonight, the Wildcats were looking to return the favor on the Benedict campus. After Tuesday's win against Paine College, the Wildcats had hopes of doing something tonight that they have done on only two previous occasions this season: win back-to-back games. In order to do that though, they would have to defeat the number one team in the SIAC, the Tigers of Benedict College.
The start was extremely good for the Wildcats. After 4:18 of play, the Wildcats held a 9-2 lead and forced an early time out by the Tigers. As play resumed after the time out, the Wildcats maintained a 14-9 lead with 10:46 left in the half. With less than seven minutes before halftime, FVSU led by five points, 19-14. A steal by Jeremy Sledge with four minutes left pushed the FVSU lead to 22-14. That was followed by a LaRon Shaw steal and lead pass to Sledge who made the lay up as the Wildcat extended their lead to 10 points, 24-14. Additionally, Sledge was fouled on the play and converted the free throw as the lead rose to 11 points, 25-14.
As the first half came to a close, the Wildcats held an eight point lead, 27-19. In the first 20 minutes of play FVSU made 10 of 23 field goal attempts (44%). Three first half three-point baskets (two by Sledge and one by Tommy Williams) aided the Wildcats in maintaining the lead. Sledge finished with 13 points in the first half.
The conference leaders started the second half with a dunk, and then followed up lay up to cut the Wildcat lead to 27-23 with 17:44 left. It wasn't until 15:30 remaining that the Wildcats got their first field goal of the second half. It came on a Detrius McCall lay up as the Wildcats took a 30-23 lead. However, after back-to-back three point buckets by the Tigers, the seven point FVSU lead was short-lived as the margin was now one, 30-29. Moments later, the Tigers got their first lead of the second half on a lay up to claim a 31-30. By the 8:38 mark, the Tiger lead had grown to 39-31.
With 6:47 remaining, Desmond Lofland got a back court steal and converted on a lay up for FVSU. That was followed by an inbound violation by Benedict. On the FVSU inbound play, Lofland again scored on a lay up and was fouled. While he missed the free throw, the Wildcats did cut the Tiger lead to just one point, 39-38. By the four minute mark, however, the Tiger lead was up to 10 points, 50-40. With less one minute left, the Tiger lead elevated to 14 points (60-47) and with it the hopes of a Wildcat upset were dashed.
The conference leaders retained their front-runner position with a 62-47 win and the Wildcats were left with two regular season games to improve their standing before the SIAC Tournament.
Jeremy Sledge led the Wildcats in scoring with 19 points. The Wildcats are now 8-18 overall and 8-14 in conference play. FVSU is back in action on Saturday night in the HPE Arena when they host the Panthers of Clark Atlanta University at 8 p.m.
-Wildcats Athletics-
