HAMPTON, Va. (Jan. 27) – The FAMU Women’s Basketball team dropped another heartbreaking defeat in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play, falling 66-65 to the Hampton Lady Pirates at the HU Convocation Center Saturday afternoon.
Saturday’s loss was the fourth in six league games for FAMU (4-15, 2-4 MEAC)– with all of the losses by six points or less, while the last two setbacks came by a combined three points.
The Rattlers jumped out to an early 6-0 lead in the first period, but the quarter ended up tied, 10-10.
However, the Lady Pirates pulled ahead in the second stanza with an 18-10 flurry to take an eight-point halftime lead of 28-20.
The third quarter went to FAMU, as the Rattler Women outpaced the home club, 26-23, and they stayed close in the final frame, trading points as time ran down.
Freshman guard De’Ayra Davis, who finished with 10 points, sank a pair of free throws and hit a layup after a Hampton turnover, to tie the game, 63-63 with 2:51 to play in regulation.
Junior center Shalunda Burney-Robinson, who led FAMU with 14 points and eight rebounds, sank a pair of free throws with 21 seconds left, tying the game at 65-65.
FAMU had a shot at the lead, and potentially the win with nine seconds left, but senior guard Ecenur “E” Yurdakul missed the front end of a one-and-one, setting the stage for Hampton’s trip to the line with seven seconds to go, where Jephany Brown hit the second of two charity tosses for a 66-65 lead.
Unfortunately, FAMU turned the ball over in their last possession with two seconds left.
Other performers for FAMU along with Burney-Robinson and Davis, were senior forward Shakeyrra Morrison with 13 points and seven rebounds, plus junior guard Florence Ouattara with 10 points.
K’lynn Willis led all scorers with 20 points for Hampton (8-10, 5-1 MEAC), followed by Monnazjea Finney-Smith with 14 points, Jephany Brown with 11 points, and Mikayla Sayle with a game-high 12 rebounds.
WHAT’S NEXT: FAMU will head across Cheasapeake Bay to Norfolk (Va.) State for a Monday evening clash set to start at 5:30 p.m. in Echols Hall.
