DAYTON, Ohio – After holding a narrow two-point lead at the half, Alabama A&M (0-1, 0-0 SWAC) could not withstand a 50-point second half barrage as Dayton (1-0, 0-0 A-10) posted a 73-52 decision in an NCAA Division I women's basketball game on Tuesday, November 9.
 
Senior forward Dariauna Lewis (Omaha, Neb.) led the way for the Bulldogs with a double-double of 13 points and 12 rebounds while graduate forward Kierra Johnson-Graham (Atlanta, Ga.) finished with a team-high 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the field and a perfect 4-of-4 at the foul line.
 
Graduate guard Nigeria Jones (Lincoln, Neb.) added 11 points, four caroms and four assists and graduate forward Teliyah Jeter (Taylors, S.C.) chipped in with seven boards. Sophomore guard Darian Burgin (Cincinnati, Ohio) rounded out the top performers with seven points.
 
The Flyers would jump out to an early 6-2 lead over the first three minutes before battling through a pair of ties and taking a narrow 9-8 advantage by the 3:07 mark of the opening frame. A triple by Burgin and jumper by Jones then fueled a 5-0 burst and put A&M ahead 13-9 just 1:23 later but Dayton's Araion Bradshaw would answer with a three of her own and Makira Cook knocked down a jumper to give UD a 14-13 margin after one.
 
Dayton would use a 7-3 run to extend to a 21-16 lead in the opening four minutes before AAMU tied it up at 21-21 with 2:55 showing on the clock. The teams would then exchange buckets before graduate guard Deshawna Harper (Indianapolis, Ind.) knocked down a pair of free throws to give the Bulldogs a narrow 25-23 lead at the half.
 
The clubs would deadlock twice in the opening minutes before Alabama A&M pulled ahead 30-27 by the 8:33 mark. Over the next 1:44, however, the Flyers would score eight straight to flip the script and pull ahead 35-30. Despite the Bulldogs staying within six points the rest of the frame, it would be a lead UD would not relinquish as the teams headed to the fourth at 48-42.
 
Thoughts of pulling off the upset in that final frame were quickly dashed, however, as Jenna Giacone drilled a three to open the quarter, stretching the lead to nine. From there they would maintain at least a seven-point advantage before scoring the final 13 points to close out the 73-52 decision.
 
Cook led the way for the Flyers with a game-high 23 points to go with six caroms and a pair of assists while Giacone finished with a double-double of 16 points and 10 boards. They were joined by Erin Whalen with 16 points and Bradshaw with 12 points, five rebounds and four assists.
 
The Bulldogs are right back in action tomorrow night as they head to American Athletic Conference member Cincinnati for a 6 p.m. (CST) meeting.