BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (February 28, 2018) – The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) kicked off their quarterfinals rounds for the 2018 SIAC Basketball Tournament.
Game 10 (Women): No. 1 Clark Atlanta , No. 4 Miles
Newcomer and Freshman of the Year, Naomi Holloway led in scoring for the Lady Panthers as she posted 17 points and added three rebounds. Senior, Lauren Turner followed up by adding another 13 points to go along with her eight rebounds. The Panthers capitalized on the Miles Lions ball handling errors as they scored 22 of their points on turnovers. After cutting it close in the first two quarters, the Panthers drove to the paint and pulled away in the second half as they took the lead. Miles’ Jasmine Hollis lead the Lady Golden Bears in shooting with 13 points, but came up short as the Lady Panthers finished 60-34. The Lady Golden Bears fall to 9-21 on the season and the Clark Atlanta Panthers will advance to face the winner of Game 14, LeMoyne-Owen versus Clafin, on Friday at 1:00 p.m.
Game 11 (Men): No. 1 Morehouse 82, No. 5 Fort Valley State 75
Morehouse’s mindset was to survive and advance as they defeated Fort Valley State, 82-75 in their first game of the tournament. Jordan Wallace led the Maroon Tigers in scoring as he posted 23 points most of which came in the paint. SIAC Player of the Year, Tyrius Walker followed up by adding 14 points and four rebounds. Despite the Maroon Tiger’s struggle shooting in the first half, their scoring off turnovers and off the bench is what allowed them to be more effective in the first half. Fort Valley State Wildcats fall to 13-16 on the season as the Morehouse Maroon Tigers advance to the semifinals and will face the winner of Game 15: Lane versus Claflin on Friday, March 2 at 3:15 p.m.
Game 12 (Women): No. 1 Central State 78, No. 4 Benedict 56
Senior, Sierra Harley led the Lady Marauders with 18 points as had an all-around performance shooting 77.8 percent inside the paint, 66.7 percent from behind the arc, and perfect shooting from the free-throw line. Juniors, Falon Edwards and Chervelle Cox followed with double-digit scoring. Although the Lady Tigers had an excellent rebounding game, their turnovers costed them the game. The Lady Marauders shot over 50 percent in all categories and capitalized on turnovers which accounted for 29 of their points. The Benedict Lady Tigers fell to 10-17 on the season and the Central State Lady Marauders will advance to the semifinals where they will face the winner of Albany State versus Kentucky State on Friday at 1:00 p.m.
Game 13 (Men): No. 1 Central State , No. 4 Benedict
Senior, Brandon Morris led the Tigers to their overtime victory over No. 1 Central State University, 70-66. Morris shot 61.5 percent in the paint and 46.2 percent from the free-throw line while adding none rebounds, a pair of assists, and a steal. Cairo Brown and Freshman of the Year, Jelani Watson-Gayle, both finished the game in double digit scoring. Central State led over the Tigers for most of the game until it became tied later in the second half. During that half, the Marauders struggled in shooting from the paint and the three-point line and fouled within the last seconds of the game which allowed Benedict to tie the game, 63-63. In overtime, Benedict shot well which Central State struggled to post points. The Marauders fall to 14-15 overall as the Benedict Tigers advance to face the winner of Game 17, No. 2 Clark Atlanta versus No. 6 Albany State.