COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Wildcats enjoyed their back-to-back trips to the South Carolina capital city. Tied after three quarters, Fort Valley State went on a 13-3 run to open the fourth quarter and never trailed in the final 10 minutes to equal a 54-49 women's basketball victory over Benedict College Monday evening.
After the Lady Tigers won the third frame to tie the game at 33-33, the Wildcats hit their stride. Delissa Kier laid in the go ahead bucket only 37 seconds into the final period to start the game-deciding run. Aaniyah Allen finished the 13-3 spurt to make it 46-36 before Amiya Allen downed a trey to push it to 49-38 at 3:23. Benedict did push back to within three, 50-47, with 45 seconds before Aaniyah Allen's layup with 24 seconds truly sealed the victory to make it 52-47.
Aaniyah Allen and Ayana Cockrell both tallied nine points to be key players as leading scorer Shekinah Rachel was relegated to only four points and two rebounds in 11 minutes of floor time. Aaniyah Allen added five rebounds, five steals and three assists, while Cockrell grabbed 11 boards, swiped four passes and handed out three assists. The three other Wildcats of Amiya Allen, Camryn Oneill and Cori Banes each added eight points. Oneill had an all-around game with her points of five rebounds, four steals, three assists and a block.
With the win, FVSU moves back over the .500 mark for the season at 8-7 and a 7-4 record in the SIAC East.
Benedict's Alaysia Nash totaled almost half of her team's points with 22 points and pulled down eight rebounds. The Lady Tigers outrebounded their visitors by a 46-33 margin.
Benedict put the game's first eight points on the scoreboard in the opening six minutes. Ace Stevenson and Cockrell cut the margin in half before two more home hoops for a 12-4 first quarter score.
FVSU came out hot in the second period where it scored the first 15 points with Cockrell and Barnes starting the big run to push to the lead at 19-12 at 2:25. The Wildcats settled for a 21-17 halftime edge.
FVSU will stay on the road where it will drive to the southwest for a 6 p.m. Saturday night, January 27, tip at Albany State.
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