HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Alabama A&M (14-13, 11-5 SWAC) opened with a dominating 19-1 run and held off a late rally to tie the longest win streak in the program's Division I history as they earned a hard-fought 55-51 victory Grambling (12-16, 9-8 SWAC) in an NCAA Division I women's basketball game on Thursday, March 3.
 
With their sixth straight win, the Bulldogs equaled the program's DI win streak, drawing even with the 2019-20 squad that claimed that many in a row from February 3-24, 2020 and the 2006-07 team from January 20 through February 5, 2007. It the second time that A&M has accomplished the feat under the leadership of head coach Margaret Richards.
 
Senior forward Dariauna Lewis (Omaha, Neb.) led the way with 19 points, 16 boards, four blocks and three assists while senior center Jada Clowers (Macon, Ga.) finished with six points and 12 rebounds – five off the offensive glass.
 
Graduate guard Nigeria Jones (Lincoln, Neb.) added six points and six steals and freshman guard Ja'Niah Alexander (Rex, Ga.) had seven points, four caroms and three assists. Graduate forward Kierra Johnson-Graham (Atlanta, Ga.) chipped in with five points, six rebounds and a block and junior guard Jill Harris (Navarre, Fla.) had nine points.
 
A&M would waste no time as they blitzed the Tigers over the first 6:12, outscoring them an impressive 19-1. That stretch was fueled by back-to-back triples from Harris, one from the corner and one from the wing, and another long ball from Jones. GSU would then get off the deck to close to within 23-7 at the end of the opening frame.
 
Unlike that opening quarter, points would be at a premium in the second as the teams combined for just six points over the first five-plus minutes, putting the score at 25-11. From there, the Bulldogs would double up Grambling 10-5 to take a 35-16 lead into the half.
 
The Tigers would flip the script to start the second half, however, as they scored the first 13 points to close to within 35-29 by the 5:06 mark. Holt and Williams would lead that charge with four points apiece but Jones would help to shut it down as she had a steal and assist to Clowers before notching another theft and taking it herself to make it 39-29 with 4:05 on the clock. From there A&M closed the frame with a 43-31 advantage.
 
It would not stay that robust, however, as Grambling scored 10 of the first 13 points of the fourth to cut it to 46-41 by the 7:08 mark. The Bulldogs would rebound to extend back to a nine-point spread, 50-41, before the Tigers answered with seven straight points – seven from Leah Morrow – to cut it to 50-48 with 2:33 to play.
 
That would be as close as they would get, however, as back-to-back buckets by Burgin and Lewis stretched it to a six-point margin with 1:22 to play. Ariel Williams would knock down a three from the corner on the next possession to slice it to three, 54-51, before Harris went 1-of-2 at the line and Alabama A&M closed out the four-point victory with a defensive stand seconds later.
 
Williams dropped 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting to lead Grambling while Holt had 12 points, seven caroms, three assists and three steals. Justice Coleman just missed a double-double with eight points and eight rebounds to go with a pair of steals and Morrow finished with seven points to round out the top performers.
 
The Bulldogs wrap up the regular season on Saturday, March 5 when they host Southern. Tip-off is set 2 p.m. at Elmore Gymnasium.