FORT VALLEY, Ga. – The Wildcats saw a lid go over its hoop in the final eight minutes. After Cori Barnes drained a trey to push her team ahead by a point, Fort Valley State went cold and Shorter University took advantage and took away the 61-51 women's basketball Tuesday final.
Barnes hit her first triple of the day with six seconds in the third for a Wildcat edge, 44-43. She hit her second long-range shot for FVSU to retake the lead, 47-46, at 8:55 remaining. The Hawks (7-2) put the ensuing 12 of the next 15 points on the scoreboard, while the Wildcats made only a pair of Aaniyah Allen free throws (2:13) in the final eight minutes of play.
FVSU (3-7) made only 2 of its 13 field goal attempts in the final 10 minutes. The home team also missed its last 11 shots and committed four turnovers in the key stretch of the contest.
Taylor Addison made one 3-pointer as part of her team-high nine points and pulled in three rebounds. Barnes was right behind with eight tallies, including the two late treys. Kamora Wade added six points on 3 of 4 shooting and grabbed five boards.
Arieonna Booker and Ja'Nya Ferguson both chipped in six points off the bench. Booker had four rebounds and two steals, while Ferguson clutched two caroms and stole one ball.
Marley Bell contributed four points and four rebounds, while Camryn Oneill added four points, three assists, two rebounds and two steals completing the starters. Allen also had four points. Makayla Arnold pulled in five rebounds and had a bucket, and Akirya Robinson finished with two points, two assists and a pair of steals.
Shorter was led by Derrica McCall's 20 points and three assists.
Trailing 9-8 six minutes into the day, Ferguson made the second and third baskets of her three in a row for a 12-9 FVSU lead. Allen laid in her only layup of the day for a 16-13 lead after one.
Following an Addison 3-pointer for a 20-19 home lead in the second frame, Shorter went on a 9-0 spurt and 13-2 run overall for a 32-22 advantage. The Wildcats answered with the final seven tallies of the first half capped by a Bell layup and 32-29 intermission deficit.
FVSU stays at home where it will take on LeMoyne-Owen College on Thursday evening, Jan. 2, in a 5:30 p.m. tip-off.
-Wildcats-
