HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Alabama A&M (13-13, 11-5 SWAC) used a command performance from graduate guard Nigeria Jones (Lincoln, Neb.) and knocked off rival Alabama State (12-13, 11-5 SWAC) in their annual rival game and an NCAA Division I women's basketball game on Saturday, February 26.
 
Jones exploded for a career-high 35 points to go with a pair of assists and senior forward Dariauna Lewis (Omaha, Neb.) notched a double-double with 16 points and 13 boards, along with four assists and a pair of blocks. Sophomore guard Darian Burgin (Cincinnati, Ohio) added 12 points, four caroms and two assists and graduate forward Kierra Johnson-Graham (Atlanta, Ga.) hauled in nine boards with a pair of assists.
 
A heated rivalry would see the Hornets come out on fire as they opened with a 10-2 run over the first 4:12. That blazing fast start would turn to a simmer, however, and the Bulldogs would take full advantage as Jones led a dominant 18-1 run that propelled A&M to a 20-11 advantage. In that run she would drop 12 of those 18 points, herself.
 
Alabama A&M would expand upon that margin early in the second as Jones continued to fuel the offensive resurgence with jumpers to push the lead to 28-13 by the 6:56 mark. They would maintain at least a 12-point advantage and expand the margin as high as 15 with a 34-19 score with just over three minutes showing on the clock. From there the teams would be nearly even as they would close out the opening frame with a 40-28 advantage.
 
A quick three by Burgin immediately stretched it back to 15, a margin they would hold three more times in the next four minutes, the last at 51-36 with 5:33 on the clock. ASU would then cut it to nine three times of their own with the last being at 58-49 with 25 seconds showing in the third. Jones would then knock down a pair of free throws to give the Bulldogs an 11-point lead heading to the fourth.
 
Ayana Emmanuel would jump start the final period with a three to cut it to eight but a jumper by Jones and layup by Lewis pushed it right back to 12 at 64-52. They would maintain that margin at 71-59 with just under four minutes to play before the Hornets battled back to within 74-68 with 31 seconds remaining.
 
It would be a futile effort, however, as a pair of Lewis free throws and a forced miss on an Emmanuel three then locked down the eight-point victory and vaulted the Bulldogs into second place by virtue of point differential in the season series.
 
Having dropped a 74-69 decision in Montgomery on January 15, the Bulldogs needed to not only win this game to knot the season series, they needed to do so by more than six points to earn the tie-breaker over ASU. With the win by more than six points they now find themselves in sole possession of second place in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC).
 
Emmanuel lit it up for Alabama State, knocking down 5-of-7 from beyond the arc to finish with a game-high 36 points while Shyma Ward just missed a double-double with eight points and 10 boards in just 16 minutes of work. Tyesha Rudolph rounded out the top performers with six caroms and three points.
 
The Bulldogs continue a three game homestand to wrap up the regular season as they host Grambling on Thursday, March 3. Tip-off is set 5 p.m. at Elmore Gymnasium.
 
FULL GAME VIDEO