HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – A pair of teams that don't particularly care for one another, a packed crowd in the final meeting in a venerable arena and a battle for second place in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) make for one of the best games of the year as Alabama A&M (12-13, 10-5 SWAC) women's basketball hosts archrival Alabama State (12-12, 11-4 SWAC) on Saturday, February 26.
Slated for 2 p.m., the game will be the final meeting between the clubs in Elmore Gymnasium before the brand new Event Center opens prior to next season. The game will also be a whiteout and all fans are encouraged to where the best white Bulldog attire.
A&M has hit their stride at the right time, putting together a four-game win streak as part of eight wins in their last 10 outings. Most recently that includes a sweep of the Florida swing with a 68-54 victory at Bethune-Cookman (2/19) and a 68-57 decision at Florida A&M (2/21). ASU has won five in a row and taken seven of their last eight, most recently an 83-69 overtime victory at B-CU (2/21).
WHAT'S AT STAKE
The Hornets come in sitting in second place, one game ahead of the Bulldogs, but that is something that could change on Saturday. Alabama A&M is currently tied for third with a Texas Southern club that will play league-leading Jackson State so has opportunity to create separation at that spot in addition to looking to move into second place.
An A&M victory would not the season series at 1-1 with ASU having claimed the 74-69 decision in Montgomery earlier in the season. With the first seeding tie-breaker of head-to-head out of the way, the next would be point differential in the meetings between the clubs. That means that in order to leapfrog the Hornets, they would have to earn that win by six points or more to earn that tie-breaker.
ALL-TIME SERIES
In 38 all-time meetings since 2001-02, which is when available records date back to, the
Hornets hold a 25-13 advantage. Alabama State won nine of the first 10 from January 12, 2002 through February 11, 2006. More recently the Bulldogs won three in a row from February 16, 2019 through February 15, 2020 before ASU notched a 77-63 decision in Montgomery on February 13, 2021 and a 74-69 decision there on January 15 of this year.
MEDIA
Fans will be able to follow all of the action with
live stats and
live video along with a digital gameday program. Additionally, full postgame coverage of all the action will be available on
www.AAMUSports.com, the official online home of Alabama A&M Athletics, following the final horn.
NOTES
The Bulldogs are seeking to finish second in the SWAC for the first time since the 2011-12 campaign and just second time since 2002-03. The only other time came during the 2004-05 season.
Scouting The Alabama A&M University Bulldogs
Record: 12-13, 10-5 SWAC
Last Time Out: W, 68-57 at Florida A&M on February 21
Streak: Four Wins
Quick Links
Women's Basketball Home Page
Schedule
Roster
Statistics
Individual Statistical Leaders
Scoring: Nigeria Jones – 14.4 ppg
Rebounding: Dariauna Lewis – 11.2 rpg
Assists: Nigeria Jones – 3.6 apg
Steals: Nigeria Jones – 1.6 spg
Blocks: Dariauna Lewis – 2.1 bpg
Field Goal Percentage: Dariauna Lewis – .496
Three-Point Field Goal Percentage: Nigeria Jones – .290
Free Throw Percentage: Dariauna Lewis – .703
Team Statistics
Scoring: 58.9
Rebounding: 39.0
Assists: 11.3
Steals: 6.4
Blocks: 4.6
Field Goal Percentage: .375
Three-Point Field Goal Percentage: .253
Free Throw Percentage: .694
Scouting The Alabama State University Hornets
Record: 12-12, 11-4 SWAC
Last Time Out: W, 83-69 (OT) at Bethune-Cookman on February 21
Streak: Five Wins
Quick Links
Women's Basketball Home Page
Schedule
Roster
Statistics
Individual Statistical Leaders
Scoring: Ayana Emmanuel – 15.9
Rebounding: Shymya Ward – 5.4
Assists: Dakiyah Sanders – 4.3
Steals: Ayana Emmanuel – 1.2
Blocks: Jada Nneji – 1.8
Field Goal Percentage: Ayana Emmanuel – .408
Three-Point Field Goal Percentage: Jayla Crawford – .337
Free Throw Percentage: Ayana Emmanuel – .745
Team Statistics
Scoring: 62.9
Rebounding: 38.9
Assists: 13.8
Steals: 7.6
Blocks: 4.1
Field Goal Percentage: .379
Three-Point Field Goal Percentage: .284
Free Throw Percentage: .674
