SUMTER, S.C. – The Wildcats had a tough start but worked it to a successful first night. Fort Valley State soundly won the final three quarters and took down Morris College, 70-53, in the women's basketball season opener.

After starting slow and trailing by as many as seven points 13 minutes into the night, FVSU came alive with a 10-3 surge and tied the contest, 23-23, on an Aaniyah Allen layup. The Wildcats ran off the ensuing eight points with three Allen free throws and a Cori Barnes trey for a 31-25 lead, which grew to as many as the 17-point final margin.

The Wildcat victory was their first season-opening win in four seasons. The last FVSU first game win came during the shortened CoVid season with a 76-62 win over Albany State on Feb. 5 of 2021.

Preseason All-SIAC Allen paced the Wildcat attack with 21 points on 7 of 10 shooting, including a pair of triples, to go with four rebounds and four assists. Camryn Oneill registered her first double-double of the year with 11 points and 10 boards along with three assists and two steals.

Off the bench, Taylor Addison contributed seven points, three caroms and two helpers. Barnes downed two treys for six points and blocked a shot while Kimora Wade netted six points and two rebounds in her first Wildcat game.

Ja'Nya Ferguson pulled down six rebounds to go with two points and two assists. Arieonna Booker made four free throws, while Delissa Kier had three points, three rebounds and two assists.

The duo of Ace Stevenson and Marley Bell both had four points with Bell handing out five assists.

The Hornets saw Zoey McMickens led the home team with 12 points.

Morris cut the five-point halftime deficit down to two points twice in the first three second-half minutes, but it could get no closer. FVSU turned a 42-36 score into a 50-36 margin in only one minute late in the third frame and never were challenged again.

FVSU stays on the road where it travels north to southeastern Ohio for Thursday night's contest at Central State. Tip-off is at 5:30 p.m.

-Wildcats-