ALBANY, Ga. – The Wildcats gutted out the rivalry. Camryn Oneill's steal and breakaway layup with 24 seconds left pushed Fort Valley State past rival Albany State, 59-56, in women's basketball Saturday evening.
After she tied the game with a free throw with 31 seconds, Oneill stole the ball from Albany State on the ensuing possession and took it the entire way for the go ahead layup, 58-56, with 24 ticks. ASU missed a layup and a tip in next before Marley Bell was fouled. Bell made one of two free throws with seven seconds and the home team's game-tying trey was off the mark ending the night.
With the win, FVSU (7-12) snapped a four-game losing streak, but, at the same time, extended its win streak over ASU (6-12) to four games as both teams are now 4-9 in the SIAC East.
Oneill also paced the Wildcats with a dozen points of 12 on 5 of 8 shooting, including a trey. She also had three rebounds, three assists and two steals, with one game-deciding.
Kimora Wade led the FVSU inside with 11 points and seven rebounds to go with three steals, two assists and a pair of blocks. Cori Barnes added 11 points of her own, including a pair of 3-pointers, while she grabbed two boards, handed out two assists and had two blocks.
Bell chipped in nine points and nine rebounds. Aaniyah Allen contributed nine points, six assists, four caroms and two steals.
Off the bench, Arieonna Booker had five points and five rebounds. Ja'Nya Ferguson, who had a key late blocked shot and the defensive rebound from it, had six boards and two points.
Kyra Peterson recorded a double-double for ASU of 20 points and 11 rebounds.
After leading 8-6 at the end of the first quarter, ASU made the first shot of the second frame. FVSU ran off the ensuing seven points with Barnes accounting for five of those and a 13-10 lead for her team. Oneill eventually hit a jumper with 54 seconds for what would be the halftime score and one-point lead of 22-21.
The Wildcats controlled the third quarter and built an 11-point advantage, 36-25, on a Wade layup. ASU downed a trey at the buzzer and cut it down to eight, 43-35, heading to the final 10 minutes.
ASU rode the momentum with the six points of the fourth period to tie it at 43-43 with 6:31 remaining. The home team continued to lead by four, 54-50, at 1:39. Barnes downed a trey before Ferguson blocked the ASU shot and got the rebound where Allen gave the visitors a 55-54 lead with 57 seconds left.
FVSU returns home for a Tuesday night, Feb. 4, matchup against Middle Georgia State starting at 5:30 p.m.
-Wildcats-
