Thursday, December 19, 2013

AAMU Bulldogs win second straight contest

NORMAL, Alabama – A&M women's basketball captured their second straight win of the year with an 81-78 victory over the Lady Bulldogs of South Carolina State Tuesday evening.

The new look women's basketball team opened a 3-0 lead in the first half and held South Carolina State scoreless until the 17:52 mark when Kourtney Williams scored her first basket putting the Lady Bulldogs on the board.

The game would continue to go back and forth with A&M holding an 11-8 lead at the first media timeout.  SCSU would need to call a timeout at the 12:14 mark as the back and forth was favoring the home Bulldogs to the tune of a 21-16 lead.

SC would not go away as they took their second lead of the contest with 9:50 remaining in the first on a Williams's lay-up. Turnovers were the name of the MEAC's Lady Bulldogs game as they forced AAMU into 11 giveaways which allowed SCSU to maintain their lead. The advantage would eventually get slimmer as baskets were made on both sides of the court.



A&M scored a season high 40 points but allowed 46 in the first half.  The Maroon & White also shot a season high 46 percent on 13 of 28 shooting.  They shot 5 of 9 from the three point line for 56%.

The second half started just as fast as the first with A&M pushing out to a 7-0 run that allowed them to regain the lead 47-46.  It wasn't until 16:55 remaining when Williams put the Lady Bulldogs on the board with a jumper giving her 16 up to that point. The lead would be lost again as the Bulldogs got stuck on 47 for three minutes and twenty-four seconds

Not only did these teams share the same Mascot but they played similar styles of basketball, up-tempo with high percentage shots.  The game remained close with 20 lead changes and 10 ties.

Things started to get interesting down the stretch with the score at 76-75 in favor of SCSU. As the time winded down Alganese Gatson drove in and went up for a layup but missed, it was then rebounded by Jasmine Sanders who passed it out to Alyssa Strickland who then hit her third three-pointer of the game to put the Maroon & White up 78-76.  South Carolina State tied the game with a MyKala Jones layup at the 1:11 mark. Jasmine Sanders then missed the second of two free-throws and saw A&M up only 79-78. South Carolina would have two more opportunities but missed and fouled Brittney Strickland who hit her second of two free-throws and Taylor Sippal who hit her first giving AAMU their second win of the year.

Brittney Strickland finished with a team high 21 points and four rebounds while Alyssa put up a season high 17 points.  Shabr'an Richardson posted a season high of 15 points with Sippial added her season high of 14 to round out the double digit scorers for A&M.

The Lady Bulldogs were led by Williams who ended the game with 23 while Mykala Jones added 18.

A&M posted a season high in total points scored and recorded the second occasion four players scored double figures.

Next up will be a trip to Louisiana for a date with the Lady Techsters of Louisiana Tech University on Sunday, December 22.


Box Score  

COURTESY ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION        

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