Box Score
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – After having 17 days off from competition, the Alabama State University women's basketball team roared back from an early deficit before dropping a down-to-the-wire 61-59 decision to Florida A&M Wednesday evening at the ASU Acadome.
With the loss, ASU slips to 3-6 following its final non-conference game of the season. FAMU improved to 7-3 with the victory.
The Rattlers opened the game on a 10-5 run and built their lead to 20-13 midway through the first half. The Lady Hornets cut the lead to three with 5:46 left in the half. Florida A&M pushed back in front by as many as 14 late in the half and owned a 36-21 halftime lead.
After trading baskets on the opening possessions of the second half, the next nine minutes of action were plagued by turnovers from both teams. A layup by Tanika Jackson at the 11:22 mark in the second half closed the Lady Hornets' deficit to nine points.
ASU continued to battle and eventually knotted the game 59-59 with 1:05 left to play a following a three pointer from Tandra Milton.
FAMU's Christian Rateree scored the game-winning basket with three seconds left on the clock.
“This game against FAMU gave us an opportunity to see how we may play in the conference,” said ASU head coach Freda Freeman-Jackson. “I felt as though we didn't play well in the first half. With the level of competition that we will face in the next part of our season, we are going to have to play both halves like we played during the second half of tonight's game.”
For ASU, Jackson and Quortni Fambro led the way scoring 11 points each. Nikel White added 10 points followed by Jamie Chambers with eight points and four steals.
“I did feel as though that the girls played with pride,” added Freeman-Jackson. “Although we had missed assignments, there were times that the ladies were able to make a run and play defense like we wanted them to.”
Rateree led the way for Florida A&M finishing with 20 points while Qiana Donald added 15 points and nine rebounds. Danielle Anderson had 12 points to help the Rattler's secure the victory.
Alabama State will return to action Monday, Jan. 4, with its SWAC opener against Grambling. ASU and GSU tip-off at 5:30 p.m. at the Health and Physical Education Arena in Grambling, La.
Lady Hornets Fall Nail Biting Action to Florida A&M, 61-59
MONTGOMERY. – Alabama State (3-6) fell behind early losing to Florida A&M (7-3), 61-59 Wednesday evening at the ASU Acadome.
Florida A&M opened the game on an 10-5 run and built up a 20-13 advantage midway through the first half. The Lady Hornets cut the lead to three with 5:46 left in the half. Florida A&M led by as many as 14 late in the half and took a 36-21 lead at halftime.
Alabama State scored on its first possession of the second half, the Rattlers came back with a lay-up by FAMU's Qiana Donald. For the next nine minutes, turnovers plagued both teams with the Lady Hornets trimming the lead to nine with a layup by Tanika Jackson with 11:22 left in the match. The Lady Hornets tied the game up 59-59 on a three pointer from Tandra Milton with 1:05 left in the half.
The FAMU Rattlers retaliated with a bucket by Christian Rateree to finish the game with three seconds left on the clock for its victory against the Lady Hornets.
“This game against FAMU gave us an opportunity to see how we may play in the conference”, said Head Coach Freda Freeman-Jackson. “ I felt as though we didn't play well in the first half, but with the level of competition that we expect to play in the next half of our season we are going to have to play both halves as we did the second half of tonight's game.”
For ASU, Jackson and Quortni Fambro each owning 11 points; Nikel White had 10 points; followed by teammate Jamie Chambers with eight points and four steals.
“I did feel as though that the girls played with pride, although we had missed assignments there were times that the ladies were able to make a run and play defense like we wanted them to.”
Rateree led the way for the Florida A&M Rattlers with 20 points while Donald added 15 and nine rebounds before filing out. Danielle Anderson had 12 points to add to the Rattler victory.
Alabama State will return to action on Monday, Jan. 4, when they travel to Grambling, La. to open up SWAC play against Grambling at 5:30 p.m. at the Health and Physical Education Arena.
