HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Extended scoring droughts would hamstring Alabama A&M (0-6, 0-0 SWAC) as they dropped a 57-36 decision to Murray State (3-1, 0-0 MVC) in an NCAA Division I women's basketball game on Saturday, November 26.
 
Sophomore guard Amiah Simmons (Osawatomie, Kan.) led the way for the Bulldogs with 13 points behind 4-of-5 shooting from beyond the arc along with three assists, five boards and a pair of steals. Junior center Jayla Cody (Valdosta, Ga.) hit double-digits with 10 rebounds along with five points, three blocks and two steals to round out the top performers.
 
Following more than a minute and a half of scoreless play to open the game it would be the Racers that would do just that – race out to a 7-0 lead by the 7:11 mark. Another extended drought, this time of 2:52, would be broken by a Simmons triple to get the Bulldogs on the board but it would be another two minutes before either team scored.
 
Again, it would be Murray State that answered the bell, scoring eight straight for a 15-3 lead with 26 seconds left in the first. An A&M jumper would make it a 10-point spread at the quarter break and Cody bookended it with a layup to start the second to close to within 15-7.
 
Over the next 7:24 though the Racers just about doubled them up, 15-8, to extend to a 30-15 advantage. As had been the case throughout the first half, the teams would go through another severe scoreless stretch, this time the final 2:15 to take that margin to the intermission.
 
Back-to-back buckets to begin the third by MSU then sparked a 9-4 run over the first 4:11 that pushed it to 39-17. A pair of threes and a free throw by Simmons then keyed a 10-2 burst for A&M that pulled them to within 41-27 by the 3:09 mark before heading to the fourth at 44-28.
 
Things would not improve in the final period as the Racers scored the first nine points over the first 4:23 to extend to a 53-28 margin. The Bulldogs would rally for eight of the final 12 points but could get no closer thant the final spread of 57-36.
 
Katelyn Young delivered a dominant performance with 21 points and 12 rebounds to pace Murray State while Jaidah Black ripped down an impressive 18 boards. Alexis Burpo added eight caroms and Macey Turley had 14 points. Bria Sanders-Woods chipped in with eight points.
 
A&M is back in action on Tuesday, November 29 when they step up the level of competition with a trip to Mississippi. They will face that Southeastern Conference (SEC) foe at 6 p.m. in Oxford, Mississippi.