WILMINGTON, N.C. | Alabama State dropped a 3-1 (22-25, 25-18, 12-25, 23-25) to UNC-Wilmington at the Hampton Inn and Suites Seahawks Classic on Thursday afternoon.
 
Madison Beasley led Alabama State with a double-double with 24 assists and 10 digs, while Taila Gaines led the Lady Hornets with 13 kills. She paced three players in double figures including A'Nylah Cobb and Jylen Whitten with 10 each, while Emily Brooks added 18 assists.
 
Temperance Chatman added 10 digs.
 
SET 1 | The opening set featured eight ties and eight lead changes as the two teams battled even through the first 34 points of the match at 17-all in a service ace from Brooke Adams. UNC-Wilmington took an 18-17 lead and grew that lead to 21-18 before Alabama State pulled to within two at 23-21 on an attack error, and then again at 24-22 on a kill from Jada Rhodes.
 
SET 2 | The second set featured just three ties and three lead changes as Alabama State grabbed a 4-3 lead and never looked back. They grew the lead to as many as five at 8-3 following a kill from Cobb and a UNCW error. After the Seahawks pulled to within two at 13-11, Alabama State went on a 3-0 run highlighted by kills from Gaines and Rhodes to push the lead to 16-11. The lead would grow to as many as seven at 21-14 following a Seahawks' error before Alabama State put the set away.
 
SET 3 | UNC-Wilmington jumped out to an early lead and held that lead the entire set, jumping out to an 8-1 lead. Whitten pulled the Lady Hornets to within seven at 12-5, before closing the gap to six on a Cobb kill (12-6). They were able to keep the deficit at six before the Seahawks went on a 12-5 run to close out the set.
 
SET 4 | Alabama State faced three set points, batting back to pull within a point at 24-23 before UNCW was able to put the match away. The Lady Hornets trailed 23-20 before battling back to within 24-23 on a kill from Cobb and an error from the Seahawks. The set featured three ties and three lead changes before the Seahawks pushed the lead to five, and Alabama State pulled close at the end.
 
Up Next
Alabama State hits the court in its second match of the weekend tournament against Norfolk State at 1 p.m. Friday.
 
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