DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. | Senior Ayana Emmanuel (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) led Alabama State with a career-high 41 points in an 83-69 overtime win on the road over Bethune-Cookman in Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) action inside the Moore Gymnasium on Monday evening.
 
Jayla Crawford (Birmingham, Ala.) started overtime with a three for Alabama State (12-12, 11-4 SWAC) to start a 20-6 run over the quarter, including 16 from Emmanuel to secure the win. They shot 5-for-6 from the field and 9-for-10 from the free throw line in the extra period, while holding the Wildcats to just 1-for-8 from the field during the span.
 
The Hornets trailed early on, making only three field goals to find themselves down 19-15, with Emmanuel sinking seven free throws in the quarter on her way to 11 points. The tight battle continued as Crawford scored inside with just over four minutes to play, sparking an 8-0 run over, helping them reduce the deficit and head into the locker room at half trailing 32-31.
 
Bethune-Cookman separated themselves in the third with a pair of runs to gain an eight-point lead with 1:44 to go, before Alabama State closed out the quarter on a 6-2 run to end the third down 51-47. The Hornets came back to tie the game at 57-57 with just under five minutes to play in the fourth and neither team extended a lead of more than two points until a pair of free throws from Emmanuel to go up 63-60.
 
With under 30 seconds to play, the Wildcats split a pair of free throws down 63-62 to tie the game for the final time as the Hornets could not convert on their last possession in regulation.
 
Emmanuel finished 11-for-15 from the field and 17-for-20 from the free throw line along with two three-pointers made. Meanwhile, Crawford added 14 points, seven rebounds and a steal in a season-high 34 minutes of play, followed by Shmya Ward (Memphis, Tenn.) who finished with 11 points and seven rebounds in the win.
 
Alabama State finished the game shooting 43.9 (25-for-62) percent from the floor, 35.3 (6-for-17) percent from three-point range and 72.4 (27-for-34) percent from the free throw line.
 
Kayla Clark led three Wildcat scorers in double-figures with an 18-point and 19 rebound double-double, including 11 offensive in 32 minutes, while Camary Harris and Kayla White added 11 and 10 points respectively.
 
UP NEXT
Alabama State will return to the state of Alabama with a road matchup on Saturday, February 26 against Alabama A&M in Elmore Gymnasium. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 pm in Huntsville.
 
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