TALLAHASSEE, Fla. | Shmya Ward and Ayana Emmanuel combined for 47 points to complete the comeback and help the Alabama State women's basketball team down the Florida A&M Rattlers 77-68 on Monday evening inside the Al Lawson Center. With the win, the Lady Hornets improve to 6-3 in conference play.

THE BASICS 
Score: Alabama State - 77  | Florida A&M - 68
Records: Lady Hornets 9-11 | Lady Rattlers 4-16 
Date: January 30, 2022 
Location: Tallahassee, Fla. | Al Lawson Center 
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HOW IT HAPPENED 

• Brazyll Watkins opened up scoring with a drained three-pointer and another made jumper to put the Rattlers in an early 5-0 hole.
• Shmya Ward and Samiya Steel combined for seven points to put ASU in front 12-6 at the 6:15 mark in the first quarter.
• FAMU was able to string together a 12-3 run to take an 18-15 lead with just under three minutes left in the first frame.
• Ward logged eight first-quarter points but FAMU held a three-point advantage going into the second quarter.
• Alabama State trailed the entire second quarter and found themselves down 40-30 heading into the intermission.
• Samiya Steele and Kristian Jackson knocked down threes and Emmanuel sunk a pair of free throws to bring ASU within seven (45-38) with 8:21 left to play in the third.
• The Lady Hornets went on to outscore the Rattlers 25-20 in the third quarter but still trailed by five (60-55) headed to the final quarter.
• Ward scored the Lady Hornets' first five points of the fourth quarter after a FAMU score to bring ASU within two.
• Emmanuel made a pair of free throws to take a 68-66 after Shmya Ward tied the score at 66 apiece just moments earlier.
• The Lady Hornets held the Lady Rattlers to just eight fourth-quarter points to hold on and win 77-68.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE 

• Shmya Ward had an efficient night after posting 24 points on 10-of-11 shooting from the field and a perfect 4-of-4 from the free throw line. Ward also grabbed eight rebounds and handed out five assists.
• Ayana Emmanuel erupted for 23 points, 5 assists, and four rebounds in the win. 
• Jayla Crawford and Samiya Steele registered nine points apiece.
• The Lady Hornets shot 43.1 percent from the floor, 35 percent from three, and 87 percent from the foul line.
• Alabama State outscored Florida A&M 22-8 in the fourth quarter.
• ASU outrebounded FAMU 37-35.

NEXT UP
The Alabama State women's basketball team returns home on Saturday, January 4th, as they host Grambling State University at 12:30 p.m. in the Acadome. The game will be broadcast live on HBCU GO.