DAYTONA BEACH, Fl. — The Florida A&M University women's basketball team suffered a heartbreaking season-ending loss on Thursday night, falling 66-64, as Ciara Thompson sank a jumper as time expired in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) game at Moore Gymnasium.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Florida A&M (6-21 overall, 4-12 MEAC) led most of the opening quarter, leading by as many as five points, 17-12, with 1:20 left, but Bethune-Cookman used an 8-0 run to close out the period and held a slim, 18-17, advantage.
The Lady Wildcats (23-5, 15-1) outpaced the Lady Rattlers in the second period, 13-11, taking a 31-28 lead into the break.
With the game tied at 39, Corey Staples splashed a 3-pointer and Shalaunda Burney-Robinson scored on a layup to give FAMU a 44-40 lead.
However, Bethune-Cookman closed the third period strong to take a 48-47 lead into the final period.
The Lady Wildcats appeared to have the game in hand, with a 64-52 lead with 3:20 left, but the Lady Rattlers staged a comeback, using a 12-2 run over the next three minutes to tie the game at 64.
THE LEADING LADIES
Shalaunda Burney-Robinson, in her final game as a Lady Rattler, finished with her 10th double-double of the season, 26 points and 17 rebounds, along with three blocks and one steal. Alaina Rice registered 14 points, eight boards, two assists and one steal. Corey Staples recorded 10 points and a team-high four assists.
Daniella Hatcher led four Bethune-Cookman players in double figures with 15 points and three steals. Ashanti Hunt added a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds, along with a game-high six assists, three steals and one block. Amaya Scott also registered 11 points, eight boards, two steals and two assists, while Ciara Thompson chipped in 10 points, eight boards, three steals and a pair of assists.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
> Florida A&M shot 43.1 percent (25-of-58) from the floor and 66.7 percent (10-of-15) from the foul line
> Bethune-Cookman finished 25-of-66 (37.9 percent) from the field and 12-of-26 (46.2 percent) from the charity stripe
> FAMU pulled down 44 rebounds, including 34 on the defensive end
> BCU registered 40 rebounds, with 27 coming off the defensive glass
> The Lady Rattlers finished with 40 points in the paint, 13 second-chance points, 12 points off 18 BCU turnovers, 10 bench points and four fastbreak points
> The Lady Wildcats registered 34 points in the paint, 24 bench points, 15 points off 25 FAMU turnovers, 10 fastbreak points and eight second-chance points
