FORT VALLEY, Ga. – The Wildcats made their return to the HPE Arena a successful one. After Middle Georgia State edged ahead, Cori Barnes drained a 3-pointer with 57 seconds and helped Fort Valley State score the final six points for the 59-54 women's basketball victory.
After trailing by as many as 10 points with 7:36 left, Middle Georgia State netted the ensuing seven points. The Knights kept the momentum and with two minutes put in five-straight points for a 54-53 lead on a free throw at 1:09. Only 12 seconds later, Aaniyah Allen found Barnes for the go ahead and game-winner 3-pointer. FVSU (8-12) made 3 of 6 free throws in the final 21 seconds and sealed the win.
With the win, FVSU (8-12) wins its second game in four days and sweeps the season series with Middle Georgia State. The Wildcats claimed the Jan. 7 meeting by a 67-57 final tally.
Camryn Oneill paced the FVSU attack as the lone double-figure scorer with 10 points to go with four rebounds, three assists and a steal. Marley Bell narrowly missed another double-double with nine points on 4 of 9 shots and 10 rebounds with three steals.
Barnes contributed eight points, including a pair of treys, and five boards. Allen had an all-around game of seven points, seven assists, six steals and five rebounds. Kimora Wade chipped in six points and six caroms.
Off the bench, both Ja'Nya Ferguson and Arieonna Booker posted seven points. Ferguson grabbed five rebounds and Booker swiped four passes to go with four boards. Jamera Bean hit a trey for 3 points and Ace Stevenson added two points.
Zakyria Johnson led the Knights with 12 points.
Neither team led the first 10 minutes by more than one possession and played to a 14-14 tie.
With 2:07 left in the second period, Bean connected on her 3-pointer for a 28-21 home lead. Middle Georgia State rallied to tie the game again, 28-28, with 12 seconds, before Bell laid the ball in at the buzzer.
Tied at 37-37, Bell and Booker each scored the final buckets of the third quarter for a FVSU 41-37 lead.
FVSU continues at home where it will host Clark Atlanta this Saturday afternoon, Feb. 8, in a 1 p.m. tip-off for the Shades of Pink/National Girls & Women in Sports Day.
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