#SWACWBB Recaps: December 20
SWAC.org
Today’s Scores:
Grambling State 65, Indiana 62
Texas Southern 72, Huston-Tillotson 36
Alabama A&M 63, North Florida 62
FIU 70, Alcorn State 45
Akron 74, Jackson State 57
Grambling State upsets Indiana, hands Hooisers first loss of season
GUAYNABO, Puerto Rico - Ariel Williams drilled a 3-pointer with over a minute remaining and sank a free throw late as the Grambling State University women’s basketball team stunned previously unbeaten Indiana, 65-62, during the second day of the Puerto Rico Classic on Thursday afternoon at Mario Morales Coliseum.
With a 33-23 lead at the half, Grambling State continued to play the role of spoiler taking a 52-44 lead into the final period and stretching the advantage to 60-46 after a Takerra Parsons bucket with 8:36 remaining. However, back came Indiana as the Hoosiers cut the margin to 60-57 after a pair of free throws by Patberg with 3:51 left.
An Ali Patberg 3-pointer closed the gap to 61-60 and Parsons was unable to sink two shots at the charity stripe on the other end. That allowed Indiana to grab the lead as Bendu Yeaney drilled a jumper to give the Hoosiers a 62-61 lead with 1:32 left. Williams was the difference for Grambling late.
Shakyla Hill, who is averaging 19.0 points in two games at the Puerto Rico Classic, scored 15 of her team-high 19 points in the first half and finished with five rebounds, four assists and two steals. Jazmin Boyd recored 18 points, five assists, three rebounds and one steal. Kendriana Washington chipped in eight points and team-highs in rebounds (seven) and steals (three).
Patberg paced Indiana (10-1) with a game-high 21 points, five rebounds, three assists, one block and one steal. Bendu Yeaney registered 14 points, three boards, one assist and one steal. Brenna Wise and Jaelynn Penn each added seven points.
- Grambling State Sports Information
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Alabama A&M erases 10-point halftime deficit in wild win over North Florida
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Watching from the bench, Alabama A&M shooting guard Carnethia Brown needed just one word to describe the afternoon: Crazy.
The adjective fits. Alabama A&M erased a double-figure deficit in the second half and survived a wild finish to top tournament host North Florida 63-62 Thursday afternoon in the North Florida Holiday Classic.
Brown led Alabama A&M with 15 points, making five of 11 attempts from beyond the 3-point arc.
"That's one we won't forget," Brown said as the final buzzer sounded.
The game was filled with drama. Alabama A&M (4-6) erased a 13-point deficit in the second half and took the lead in the final minutes of the fourth quarter.
But the game's most dramatic moment was condensed to the final seconds — primarily, the final second. After falling behind by six at the midway point of the fourth quarter, North Florida (4-5) gradually chipped away at the lead, pulling within one on a layup by Ty Purifoy with 11 seconds remaining on the clock.
That's when the drama intensified.
Following an Alabama A&M missed free throw, North Florida managed to get three possessions in the game's final seven seconds, including three possessions in the final second. Purifoy missed North Florida's first attempt at a potential game-winning shot when the ball bounced off the iron. As the ball landed in her teammate's hands, the final horn sounded and the Alabama A&M bench began to celebrate.
The game, however, was not over. After a lengthy review by game officials, 0.5 seconds was put on the clock and North Florida was given an opportunity to in-bound the ball.
North Florida's third attempt at a potential game-winner ended similar to the previous, with the horn sounding as Adrienne Jackson was trying to tip the in-bounds pass into the basket.
But, just like before, Alabama A&M's celebration was halted when a game official said Kenya Pye had fouled Jackson on the missed shot. And, after a second lengthy review at the scorer's table, 0.3 seconds was placed on the clock.
The drama finally came to an end after both of Jackson's attempts from the free-throw line bounced off the back of the rim, allowing the time to finally run off the clock and giving Alabama A&M a quality road win.
Brown played a major role for the Bulldogs.
Two of Alabama A&M's top scorers, Ashlyn Dotson and Jameica Cobb, each got in foul trouble early in the first quarter, and North Florida took advantage as Dasha Eremeeva put together a strong performance in the paint, helping the Ospreys build a 13-point cushion.
Eremeeva led North Florida with 18 points, making seven of eight attempts from the floor.
But when things appeared bleak for Alabama A&M, Brown provided a spark the Bulldogs needed.
Brown drained five 3-pointers, sparking a furious comeback in the second and third quarters. Cobb finished with 10 points for Alabama A&M, while Dotson added eight. Lauren McKee scored seven points.
- AAMU Sports Information
QUICK HITS:
- An early first-quarter deficit was too much for Alcorn to overcome during a 70-45 loss to Florida International Thursday afternoon. Charisma Walker led the Lady Braves with nine points and seven rebounds. Kirdis Clark added eight points.
- Kylee O’Hara led FIU with 12 points. Shante Walker added 11 points and nine rebounds, and Ce’Nara Sparks pulled down 21 boards to go with eight points for the Panthers.
- Texas Southern scored early and often on Thursday at the HPE Arena as the Lady Tigers got back into the winner column with a 72-36 win over Huston-Tillotson. Niya Mitchell scored 18 points while Richelle Velez chipped in 18 points off the bench while going 6-of-8 from three point range.
- D’Asia Mitchell scored 19 points for Jackson State in the Lady Tigers’ 63-50 loss to Akron Thursday evening. Kaisha Lucky added 12 points, seven rebounds and five assists, and Marneisha Hamer scored 10 points. However, leading scorer Christina Ellis was held to four points.
- Haleigh Reinoehl and Megan Sefcik led Akron with 13 points each, and Shayna Harmon added 12 points.