Jan. 13, 2007

Final Stats

Huntsville, Ala. - The nerves showed early for a team dominated by players who had never been in a hostile road game with so many fans. But Freda Freeman-Jackson settled her young troops and inspired a furious Alabama State rally that fell just short as the Lady Hornets lost to Alabama A & M 68-64 Saturday afternoon.

After ASU's L'Teisha Holloway's scored the first basket of the game, the Bulldogs - the SWAC's lone undefeated team went on a 19-6 run to build an eleven point lead with 11:42 remaining in the first half. Though ASU would begin to find their offensive rhythm, the Bulldogs held the same advantage at halftime.

The Lady Hornets bench - led by Daphne Williams - rebounded from a difficult first half to outscore the A & M bench 17-9 in the second half.

Williams - in her best Reggie Miller impersonation down the stretch - buried two deep 3-point shots, with the last one pulling ASU within two and silencing what had been a raucous A & M crowd.

On the inbounds play, the Lady Hornets came up with the steal, but a controversial traveling call gave the Bulldogs the ball and for all intents and purposes the game.

Despite that call and a 32-15 free throw disparity, Freeman-Jackson didn't point the finger at the officials.

"I expected our freshman to have some jitters," she said. "But you can't commit that many turnovers (25) and expect to win on the road."

Four Lady Hornets scored double figures led by Assunta Fulgham's 16 points. Holloway scored 13, Essence Butler had 12 and Williams finished with 11.

Tamika Green led the Lady Bulldogs (9-6, 5-0 SWAC) with 16 points. Katrich Williams contributed 10.

The Lady Hornets (5-11, 2-3 SWAC) off until next Saturday when they host Southern University for ASU Connection Day. Tip off is set for 1 p.m.