FAIRFIELD, Ala. – The Wildcats received big games from two new players. Fort Valley State led for the majority of the first 29 minutes, but it suffered a tough loss in the end as Miles College made three-straight 3-pointers on the way to the 58-47 women's basketball decision.
Marley Bell netted two free throws and two minutes later added a layup to pull FVSU (2-5/0-4 SIAC East) with a point 37-36 with 27 ticks left in the third quarter. Miles (4-1/2-0 SIAC West) downed a trey with three seconds left in the third and made back-to-back 3-pointers in the opening minute of the fourth frame and opened a 46-36 lead. Camryn Oneill banked in a bucket and cut the deficit down to six, 52-46, with 2:39 remaining, but the Wildcats could get no closer.
FVSU dropped its third in a row in the SIAC Crossover action against Miles and lost the glass battle, 49-30.
The Wildcats received a season-high 18 points on 6 of 10 shooting from Bell to go with four rebounds, three steals and a blocked shot. Kimora Wade had her season-best, as well, with a dozen of 12 tallies on 6 of 11 attempts and grabbed a team-high seven caroms.
Behind a pair of triples, Cori Barnes added eight points to go with five assists and three rebounds. Aaniyah Allen contributed a 3-pointer, handed out four assists and swiped two passes. Makayla Arnold added two points and two steals, while Ja'Nya Ferguson had four boards.
Iemyiah Harris led Miles with 15 points.
Wade netted the opening bucket and all three Wildcat 3-pointers came in the middle of the first quarter and led 11-10.
FVSU ran off the first eight points of the second frame with both Bell and Wade accounting for four points apiece for a 19-10 advantage at 3:30. Miles scored 10 of the final 12 points and cut the difference to 21-20 at half.
After three lead changes starting the first half of the third quarter, Arieonna Booker and Ferguson each made a free throw for a FVSU lead, 32-31. It turned out to be the visitors final lead as Bell tied the contest at 34-34 with 2:04 in the third before the Miles three-straight 3-pointers.
FVSU has a week off before it has its home opener next Monday evening, Dec. 16, in a 5:30 p.m. tip-off against Tuskegee.
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