MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- With 29.7 seconds left in the game the Alabama State women's basketball team captured their fifth straight home victory an impressive fashion behind a Nakiya Smith jump shot Tuesday night, at the Dunn Oliver Acadome with a the final score of 64-63 against the Florida A&M Rattlers.
"It was a very tough game," said head coach Freda Freeman-Jackson. "Tonight we managed to contain their top scorer Jasmine Grice down the stretch when the game got close; Taila Arrington did a fantastic job on defense forcing her into tough shots and situations,"said Freeman-Jackson.
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In the first half the game was knotted early with a 2-2 tie at the 19:31 mark, the Lady Hornets went on to advance the score taking their largest lead of the half , 11 points with 5:15 left in the opening half. The Rattlers began chipping away pulling within three points going into the locker room (31-28).
The senior duo of Smith and Quentori Alford led the Lady Hornets in scoring. Smith had 18 points, while Alford pitched in 13 points and three rebounds. From off the bench freshman Kayla Tucker stepped up and contributed 12 points all of which came from behind the arc. Jasmine Peeples led the team in rebounds with six and Taila Arrington pitched in with a team high four assists.
"Kayla did an excellent job tonight coming in shooting three's scoring 12 points," said Freeman-Jackson. " Nakiya also had a very impressive game, she has done everything we brought her in do to, she's an all-around athlete, that can shoot the three and a leader on the court. Quentori tonight showed a lot of leadership and toughness, she stepped up like a veteran should and helped us seal the victory."
In the first half the Lady Hornets came out shooting 46.7% and going 2-8 behind the arch. Nakiya Smith led the Lady Hornets in the half with 12 points and a rebound. Alabama State's defense held the Lady Rattlers to just 34.6 % from the field forcing them to go 9-26. Off the bench Kayla Tucker contributed six points, while Daniele Ewert had four rebounds underneath the basket. The Lady Hornets scored seven points off of turnovers with the bench adding 13.
In the second half the Rattlers behind Jasmine Grice 's game high 23 points fought back into the contest, The Lady Hornets scored 33 points and gathered rebounds in the second half, finishing the game shooting 45.5 % from the field . Defensively ASU held the Rattlers to just 40.4% from the field.
The Rattlers jumped out to a lead as big as 11 at the 8:35 mark in the final half. In the final stretch of the contest the Lady Hornets cut the Rattler lead down on Tucker's pair of three pointers pulling ASU within six points with 3:24 left in the game. Alabama State went on to cut the lead to one after a key 11-0 run. After a 30 second timeout and defensive stands by both teams, Smith hit what would be the game-winning jumper with 29 seconds left giving the Lady Hornets the victory.
Alabama State plays host to Mercer University Friday, December 20 at the Dunn-Oliver Acadome. The contest is slated for 6 p.m.
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