SAVANNAH, Ga. – The Wildcats put the pressure and start well Monday evening in the season finale. Fort Valley State's good start turned sour as the game progressed and the battle of the top two Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference East women's basketball teams went to Savannah State, 68-51.
FVSU (14-10/12-7 SIAC East) led 16-12 before it received a Ayani Cockrell 3-point play and a pair of Aaniyah Allen free throws to extend it to 21-12 at 1:43 in the first period. The Lady Tigers hit the final shot of the first half and continued with the first eight tallies of the second stanza to go ahead, 44-35. Camryn Oneill drained a bucket with 2:36 in the third quarter to cut the deficit down to seven, 46-39, but it would be the closest FVSU would be able to get to retaking the lead the rest of the way.
Cockrell garnered top honors for the Wildcats with 17 points on 4 of 5 from the floor and 9 of 11 free throws to go with five rebounds. Shekinah Rachel posted her 10th double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds along with five steals, three assists and a blocked shot. Allen added nine points, three assists and a pair of steals. Oneill contributed seven points in the effort.
After making 6 of 9 from the floor in the opening quarter and 9 of 10 free throws for 21 points, the Wildcats managed only 30 points in the final 30 minutes. In fact, FVSU made on 9 of 35 attempts in the last three quarters and misfired on all 11 tries from 3-point land.
Amari Heard led a balanced scoring Lady Tiger output with 16 points.
Following the home team making the opening four points, FVSU put in nine of the next 13 points for a 9-8 edge on a Rachel jumper with 5:46 in the first quarter. Leading 11-10, Cori Banes converted a 3-point play and Cockrell had a pair of free throws for a 16-10 advantag with 3:06 in the first. Allen made two more free throws with 44 ticks left in the second frame for the final Wildcat lead of the night at 35-34.
FVSU will now move on to the SIAC Tournament, which starts on Saturday (Mar. 2) with the First Round. The Wildcats' first game and opponent will be released in the next couple days.
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