Head Coach Freda Freeman Jackson will take her Lady Hornets squad to Normal, Ala. on Friday for an intra State rival match-up against the Bulldogs of Alabama A&M.  The teams are scheduled to begin play at 3 p.m. from the Hill (T.M. Elmore Gym).
 
Alabama State (4-11, 2-2 SWAC) is coming off a two game road trip from earlier this week in two close matchups falling to Arkansas-Pine Bluff 68-63 Sunday and Miss. Valley 67-63 Tuesday night, while Alabama A&M (5-9, 4-0 SWAC) went undefeated keeping a perfect SWAC start to the season.
 
“We already know that we have to play at home and away,” said head coach Freda Freeman-Jackson.  “We have to understand the difference between home and away.  When we are away you are by yourself and we have to lean on the defensive end.  We need to know what to do if we get in a scoring drought and then eventually you are going to start back scoring.  We must do a better job on the defensive end and we will be in the position to win some ball games.  This team has played better at home, but when we have away games we are going to have to figure out how to win on the road.
 
Fans can follow the action on the airwaves on WVAS Sports Network.  The game will also have live stats available by clicking on the link http://www.sidearmstats.com/aamu/wbball/scoreboard.aspx or by going to the basketball game day central page.
 
Sophomore Kierra Paige scored 18 points and tallied four steals last season against the Bulldogs, while Quentori Alford is averaging 4.5 points and 2.5 rebounds in her four career games versus A&M.  Alford is second on the team in scoring (9.9) after playing in just 11 of the 15 games the Lady Hornets have already played.  She leads them in rebounding with a 9.2 rebounding average thus far this year.
 
Jasmine Sanders leads the squad with a 9.5 scoring average while averaging 6.0 rebounds per game.  Alyssa Strickland follows Sanders averaging 9.0 points per game.  Sanders has hit 19 three-point field goals this season for a 29 percentage from behind the arc.
 
Alabama A&M is averaging 58.1 points per game and are shooting a .376 percentage from the field and are converting 70.1 percent of their free throw attempts.
 
Saturday's game between the Lady Hornets and the Bulldogs will be their 44^rd meeting with Alabama State holding a slight, 23-20 edge.  However Alabama A&M has won the last seven of last eight meetings since the 2008-09 season.  The Bulldogs defeated ASU 63-51 in their last meeting at T.M. Elmore Gym.
 
“Defense has been something that I have been emphasizing,” commented Freeman-Jackson.  “We have been scoring over 60 points in the SWAC, but at the same time our opponents has been outscoring us, so we have to do a better job communicating on defense.  I think the girls are working hard but we have to make better decisions and play a little smarter on defense.  We have to close our games out, make baskets and play defense.”