Sharp-Shooting FAMU Women Top NSU 83-67

NORFOLK, Virginia -- Kenya Dixon scored 22 points off the Florida A&M bench and hit six of her team's nine 3-pointers as the Lady Rattlers topped Norfolk State 83-67 on Saturday afternoon at Echols Hall.

FAMU (8-8, 2-1 MEAC) shot 50 percent from the floor while holding NSU (0-13, 0-3) to a 38-percent effort. Kayla Roberts led the Spartans with 15 points and 10 rebounds, Siobhan Beslow also had a double-double of 14 points and 11 boards, and Kiara Phillips chipped in with 14 points.

The Lady Rattlers never trailed. They hit five field goals in the first quarter, all from behind the arc. Dixon hit a pair as did Olivia Antilla to stake FAMU to the early lead.

The Lady Rattlers started to pull away in the second quarter, outscoring NSU 24-12. FAMU scored the final eight points of the quarter, capped by a layup by Alicia McCray, to carry a 41-24 lead into the half.

Antilla scored the first basket of the second half to stretch the FAMU lead to 19 at 43-24. But the Spartans mounted a spirited rally thereafter, using a 13-0 run to climb back into the game. NSU, which did not hit a 3-pointer in the first half, got consecutive 3-pointers by Phillips, Yazmen Hannah and Roberts to start the spurt. Hannah and Phillips each added a pair of free throws, the latter two cutting the Spartans' deficit to 43-37 with 7:34 left in the third period.

But Victoria Nguyen scored six of the next eight FAMU points, and a triple by Dixon pushed the Lady Rattlers' lead back to 12. The Spartans couldn't get closer than 10 in the final quarter.

Saturday marked the second time this year that both Roberts and Beslow tallied a double-double in the same game. It was Beslow's sixth double-double of the year and Roberts' fourth. Roberts added four steals and Beslow and guard Dominique Harper had three assists apiece.

Khadejra Young contributed 19 points, Antilla had 15 and McCray 10 for FAMU.

The Spartans are back in action Monday as they host Bethune-Cookman at 6 p.m.

BOX SCORE

Matt Michalec, Asst. AD/Communications
COURTESY NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMAITON