Box Score / Katrich Williams tied for a game-high 18 points, but it was not enough as the Alabama A&M women’s basketball team dropped its season opener to the Racers of Murray State, 72-61, at Elmore Gym on Fri. Nov. 13. Whiquitta Tobar recorded 11 points, including a perfect 4-for-4 from the stripe. Dominisha Johnson and Nesfayia Watkins had nine points apiece. The Bulldogs are back in action on Nov. 19 when they travel to face Auburn for a 6 p.m. tip.
As a team, A&M was held to a 38.6 shooting clip (22-for-57), but held a 43-35 advantage on the boards over Murray State. A&M also had 23 bench points and scored 10 points off 15 Racer miscues.
The Racers scored four straight points to take 4-0 advantage, before a layup by Whiquitta Tobar put A&M on the scoreboard. A Katrich Williams basket at the 17:20 mark tied the score. Murray State ripped off an 11-0 run for a 13-4 margin with just under the 13 minutes left in the period. The Racers took a 17 point lead – its largest of the game – at 27-10 with eight minutes in the first 20. Ignited by a Shaurice Miller layup, A&M ripped off a 15-0 run in five-plus minutes to cut it to 27-25. Murray State ended the half with a 5-1 run to push the spread at 33-26 heading into the lockerroom. Williams led A&M with nine points on 4-of-7 shooting from the field.
In the second period, Murray State led by as many as 14, 49-35, off a Alex Duck basket. The Racers pushed the spread to 70-53 with just over three minutes to play. A Tobar jumper sparked a Bulldog 6-0 run the slice into the advantage to cut it to 70-59 with 1:02 remaining in regulation. A&M would not get any closer, however, as Murray State walked away with the 72-61 final.
For Murray State, Mariah Robinson tied for a game-high 18 points in 22 minutes of action. Kristen Kluempers scored 12 points. Jessica Holder chipped in with 11 points off the bench. As a team, they went 30-for-67 from the floor.
The Bulldogs are back in action on Thurs. Nov. 19 when they face Auburn. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.
