ORANGEBURG, S.C. (Jan. 21) - The Florida A&M Women’s Basketball team picked up their four Mid-Eastern Conference win of the season as they held on for 61-56 win over South Carolina State, here Monday afternoon at Smith-Hammond-Middleton Center.
SCSU tied the game at 34-34 on a Mykala Jones three pointer with 12:23 to go in the game as the Lady Bulldogs opened the second half with a 15-6 run.
The Lady Bulldogs would tie the contest again for the second time on an Ashley Clarke layup at 46-46 with 5:24 to go in the game.
Martin would tie contest for FAMU at 48-48 on a pair of made free throws with 4:18 left for the third time in the period.
Trinese Fox would give the Lady Bulldogs a 50-48 lead on a made jumper with 3:15 left in the contest.
Back-to-back field goals by Sparkman and Grice would give FAMU the lead for good, giving the Lady Rattlers 53-52 lead at the 3:02 mark as that would be closes that SCSU would get as the Lady Rattlers pulled away in the final three minutes of the contest.
FAMU finished the contest shooting 35.7 percent (20-of-56), while SCSU shot 40.7 percent (24-fo-59).
SCSU scored the first two baskets of the game as they took a 5-0 lead with 18:14 to go in the first on a three pointer by Tiara Knots and a layup by Cabriel Duren.
FAMU responded with an 11-2 run as they took an 11-7 lead, capped off by a pair of free throws by Jasmine Grice, followed by 10-5 run by the Lady Rattlers as they extended their lead to 23-13 run with 8:00 to go in the first, capped off by a pair of Keturah Martin free throws.
Then both teams would endure a scoring drought as Grice would hit a three pointer at the 5:22 mark for FAMU to give the Lady Rattlers a 26-19 lead.
Foreman would record FAMU’s final field goal of the half as she connected on a jumper with 1:36 to go in the half, as the Lady Rattlers went into the break with a 28-19 lead.
FAMU finished the first half shooting 31 percent (9-of-29), while SCSU shot 32.0 percent (8-of-35).
SCSU held the rebounding margin over the FAMU as they outrebounded the Lady Rattlers, 41-37.
The Lady Rattlers were paced by Grice as she scored a game high 25 points, followed by Jamie Foreman as she recorded a double-double on the night scoring 10 points and pulling down 15 rebounds.
Ashley Clarke paced the Lady Bulldogs as she scored a team high 12 points and pulled down 10 boards, behind her was Tiara Knots with nine.
The Lady Rattlers raises their record to 7-11 overall and 4-1 in the MEAC, while the Lady Bulldogs lower their record to 11-6 and 3-3 in conference play.
FAMU will return to action on Saturday, Jan. 26 as they will welcome Maryland Eastern Shore to the Al Lawson in a 5:30 p.m. MEAC contest.
