HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Alabama A&M (7-11, 5-3 SWAC) took the lead for good midway through the second quarter and never looked back as they dropped Bethune-Cookman (3-15, 2-7 SWAC) in an NCAA Division I women's basketball game on Monday, January 31.
 
Graduate guard Nigeria Jones (Lincoln, Neb.) erupted for a game-high 23 points behind 4-of-7 shooting from beyond the arc and added four rebounds, three assists and a steal. Senior forward Dariauna Lewis (Omaha, Neb.) collected another double-double with 14 points and 11 boards to go with a pair of blocks and an assist.
 
Sophomore guard Darian Burgin (Cincinnati, Ohio) delivered an impressive all-around game with nine caroms, five assists, three steals and five points and senior center Jada Clowers (Macon, Ga.) just missed a double-double with eight points and nine boards.
 
A&M would waste no time as they jumped out to a 10-2 lead over the first five-plus minutes before B-CU closed the quarter with a 6-1 rally to head to the second with the score at 11-8. The Wildcats would then close to within one at the start of the frame before Burgin hit three free throws as part of a 6-0 run that put the Bulldogs up 16-10 by the 8:48 mark.
 
From there Bethune-Cookman rallied to within 18-17 behind a 7-2 stretch that saw four points from Imani Reid. That would be all they would get, however, as A&M dominated the final 5:17, scoring the last six points of the half to head to the break up 24-17.
 
It would be a far different story to start the second half as B-CU, trailing 26-19, scored six straight to cut it to one by the 6:50 mark. From there, though, A&M would power a 15-6 run to close the frame as Jones delivered 10 of those. That burst sent them to the fourth holding a 41-31 advantage.
 
That final period would see the Bulldogs use an 11-4 stretch to build a 52-35 advantage before closing out the commanding 58-38 victory over the final three-plus minutes.
 
Reid led B-CU with nine points and six boards while Kayla White finished with eight points and six caroms. Morgan Beachum added six points and four steals to round out the top performers.
 
The Bulldogs hit the road for a pair of games beginning with a trip to Southern on Saturday, February 5. Game time is set for 5 p.m. in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
 
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