SAVANNAH, Ga. – The Wildcats look to carry their winning formula into the post season on Friday. After posting its first regular season winning record in 11 seasons, Fort Valley State aims for another Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Tournament run and takes the court Friday afternoon.
With taking second in the SIAC East with a 12-7 Division record, FVSU starts its latest first game in recent years. The Wildcats open in the Quarterfinals and take the Tiger Arena court at Savannah State on Friday afternoon (March 8) in a 2:30 p.m. tip-off against the winner of Wednesday Second Round matchup between Lane College and Albany State.
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SIAC Women's Basketball Tournament
FVSU vs. Lane College/Albany State winner
Friday - March 8
2:30 p.m. - Savannah State's Tiger Arena
Seen live on: ESPN+
Live Stats
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FVSU improved by 6 ½ games this season under second-year head coach Doug Robertson with an overall extremely young squad. In the first year under the Wildcat coach when he arrived as the 2022 fall semester began, FVSU posted an 8-17 campaign before the program improved to 14-10 this season – the first winning season since it finished 15-13 during the 2012-13 year.
Despite heading into last year SIAC Tournament with only six regular season wins, Robertson guided the Wildcats to a First Round win over the Magicians of LeMoyne-Owen College (55-51) before it upset Benedict College in the Second Round (63-48). The FVSU run ended in the Quarterfinals, the same round it starts in Friday, to eventual women's runner-up Miles College by a 57-33 final tally.
FVSU also last two contests during the 2021-22 tournament field as it defeated LeMoyne-Owen (48-45) before it fell to SIAC champion Savannah State (91-64).
SIAC Defensive Player of the Year and All-SIAC First Team forward Shekinah Rachel will lead her teammates into the Friday afternoon Quarterfinals versus either Lane College or Albany State.
The Wildcats played the West Division Lady Dragons on Dec. 4 in Jackson, Tenn. Lane (13-13/11-8 SIAC West) edged out a 54-53 home win over FVSU in the meeting.
FVSU swept its rival Albany State in the regular season series. The Wildcats bested the Lady Rams in Albany on January 27 by a 53-43 final, before they claimed the return meeting on Feb. 17 in Fort Valley by a 63-56 score.
ASU moved on past the First Round with a 58-41 Monday win over Spring Hill College. The Lady Rams also took a tight 60-59 final over the Lady Dragons in Tennessee on Dec. 2
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