FORT VALLEY, Ga. – The Wildcats never folded and found a way to take their biggest home game of the year. Marley Bell pulled in the blocked shot and lofted up the game-winning shot as the overtime buzzer sounded and propelled Fort Valley State to the 61-59 women's basketball victory over rival Albany State for Winter Homecoming.
After a pair of Aaniyah Allen free throws tied the game, Bell added her own pair with 30 seconds for a Wildcat edge, 59-57. ASU took possession and deadlocked the contest for a third time over the extra five minutes, 59-59, with 10 seconds to go. Allen found Taylor Addison at the top of the key and had her shot blocked into the air, but Bell snatched it and lifted it toward the bucket and watched it go off the back of the rim and in as the backboard lit ending overtime for the win.
With the victory, FVSU (9-15) sweeps the season series with ASU (8-16) and moves ahead of the rival by one game in the SIAC East with its fifth league win. The Wildcats captured another close win on Feb. 1 by a 59-56 tally.
FVSU forced ASU into 25 turnovers with 13 steals coming off those possessions. The home team pulled in 18 key offensive rebounds of its 37 caroms.
Leading the Wildcat charge, Allen drained a pair of 3-pointers and made 7 of 8 free throws for 15 points to go with three steals and two assists.
Both the FVSU freshman forwards – Bell and Kimora Wade – registered double-doubles. Bell equalled Allen's points with 15 and pulled in 12 rebounds and swiped three passes. Wade contributed 11 points and 10 boards with a blocked shot.
Off the bench, Addison chipped in 10 points and stole two passes. Arieonna Booker added seven points, five rebounds and two steals.
Both Camryn Oneill and Cori Barnes chipped in three points apiece. Ace Stevenson rounded out the scoring with two points and Ja'Nya Ferguson grabbed three boards.
Keyra Peterson guided the Lady Rams effort with 15 points and eight rebounds.
Following a Booker free throw, FVSU saw its one-point lead turned into a seven-point deficit, 12-5, over a 5:14 time frame in the first period.
Down 21-11 midway through the second quarter, the Wildcats surged with nine points in a row off four-straight buckets. Allen dropped a fade away jumper as time expired for halftime and FVSU went to intermission behind by a single point, 23-22.
ASU ran out in the third quarter with the first eight points for a new 31-22 lead. The Lady Rams kept the momentum through the period and headed to the final 10 minutes ahead, 42-35.
After trailing by as many as nine points with 7:21 left in regulation, FVSU made its move with seven points in a row with an Allen steal and a 3-pointer in the middle for a new game at 46-44. ASU, though, pushed it back to three points, 50-47, at 24 ticks to go. Allen stepped to the line for back-to-back pair of free throws for a 51-50 edge with 10 seconds.
The Lady Rams converted a 3-point play four seconds later and retook the lead, 53-51. Allen lofted a pass deep inside to Bell, who laid the ball in as time expired in regulation, 53-53, and sent the contest to overtime.
FVSU will have Sunday to enjoy the win before it travels to the east side of Georgia for a Monday night, Feb. 24, game at Savannah State. Tip will be at 5:30 p.m.
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