FORT VALLEY, Ga. – The Wildcats saw it fall away in the final moments. Allen University won the final minute and slipped past Fort Valley State, 68-65, in women's basketball Saturday afternoon.
Cori Barnes drained a 3-pointer at 2:13 and Kimora Wade added a foul shot (1:31) and gave FVSU back the lead, 65-62. From there, the Wildcats saw the momentum quickly shift to the Yellow Jackets. Allen made two free throws with 55 seconds remaining and converted a home turnover into the lead, 66-65, with a jump shot. FVSU missed a jumper with 22 ticks to go before Allen made the game's final bucket at 14 seconds. A final Wildcat turnover ended their chance for a game-tying attempt.
With the win, Allen (15-7/10-5 SIAC East) completed the season sweep over FVSU (8-14/4-11 SIAC East). The Yellow Jackets won on Jan. 20 in Columbia, SC by a 71-62 final.
Marley Bell made 4 of 8 shots for a FVSU team-high 14 points and four rebounds. Wade connected on 6 of 8 tries for 13 points and her own four caroms.
Off the bench, Ace Stevenson dumped in 13 points off the bench, 10 in the first half, on 5 of 7 field goals and grabbed five rebounds.
Aaniyah Allen handed out eight assists to match her eight points to go with three rebounds, two blocks and a steal. Barnes made a pair of triples for six points and had six boards and a pair of blocks.
Camryn Oneill chipped in four points, three rebounds and three steals. Arieonna Booker contributed four points, four rebounds and two assists. Taylor Addison had three points and Ja'Nya Ferguson clutched six rebounds.
Taliah Wesley guided Allen with 22 points and seven steals.
After trailing by a point ending the first quarter, FVSU reversed the advantage to 10 points in its favor, 31-21, on an Oneill layup with 3:45.
The Wildcats continued to lead by 11, 46-35, after a Bell layup with 4:32 into the third period. Allen made the run of the game with the ensuing 17 points for a 52-46 lead and the contest was a five-point game or less in the last 12 minutes.
FVSU remains at home for a Tuesday evening (Feb. 18) matchup with Benedict College starting at 5:30 p.m.
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