Reyana Miller scored 20 points, including two free throws in the final 17 seconds, to lead Clark Atlanta to a 59-58 victory over Fort Valley State Tuesday.
Miller went into the game needing 15 points to reach 1,000 points during her CAU career. She now has 1,005 career points.
The win for Clark Atlanta (8-18, 6-11 SIAC), coupled with Paine's loss to Benedict Tuesday, leaves them in a tie for fourth place in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference's East Division with Paine as CAU's regular season ends. Fort Valley State falls to 13-13, 9-8 in conference play.
Tuesday, the Lady Panthers led much of the first half, though the game was close. CAU was able to squeeze out a six-point lead after
Autum Morings' free throw with 6:51 left before halftime making it 21-15. Two minutes later, FVSU had outscored CAU 6-0 to tie the game.
The lead went back and forth the rest of the half until
Jalisa Jones hit two free throws 28 seconds before halftime that gave CAU a 29-28 lead going into the locker room.
CAU got the lead up to eight points three times in the third quarter, the last time on Miller's 3-pointer with 1:43 left in the quarter, making it 48-40.
The Lady Panthers led by six after another Miller basket midway through the final quarter. But FVSU made another run, going ahead 55-54 with a minute remaining. But the Lady Panthers were able to retake the lead after a
Naomi Holloway free throw, a layup by Morings and Miller's free throw with 17 seconds left, putting CAU up 58-55. CAU was able to hold off Fort Valley State the rest of the way for the win.
Miller had 20 points, five steals, two rebounds and an assist. Holloway had 11 points, three steals, three assists and two rebounds while Morings added nine points and six rebounds.
Lakashia Hill had six points and seven rebounds.
Taziha Fanning led FVSU with 12 points and 21 rebounds while Nikki Culbreath also had 12 points.
The Lady Panthers now will get ready for the SIAC Women's Basketball Tournament that begins on Monday, March 2 in Rock Hill, S.C.
