MOBILE, Ala. – Alabama A&M women's basketball used a strong defensive game to take home a 60-46 win over rival Alabama State in Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) action in their first meeting of the season as part of the Bridge Builder Classic.
 
The Bulldogs (6-9, 4-1 SWAC) were led by double figure scorers in the game in Amani Free (Clay, N.Y.) with a game-high 17 point and ten rebound double-double, while Toni Grace (Fishers, Ind.) added 16 points, five rebounds, and two assists on the day.

The rivalry began with both teams playing well in the opening quarter, as the Hornets opened the game with a basket at the 8:54 mark, before a response from Free got on the board first for the Bulldogs.
 
The quarter went on as a back-and-forth affair, with Free scoring ten points in the frame and seeing seven ties and three lead changes in the period, yet with under a minute to play, a score from Amiah Simmons (Osawatomie, Kan.) with 40 seconds left gave A&M the 16-14 lead after one.
 
After the Hornets scored first in the second to tie the game again at 16-16, Alabama A&M scored on consecutive possessions to go up five before the first media timeout, only for a response from Alabama State to put the score at 24-24 at the 5:32 mark. From there, the Bulldogs went on to hold the opponent scoreless for the remainder of the quarter and lead 30-24 at halftime.
 
Alabama State made another push early in the third, climbing within a point with just over six minutes to play, however Alabama A&M went on a 9-1 run over the next three minutes, leading 39-30 with 3:38 to go in the quarter. They continued to push their lead, fighting off another run from ASU and headed into the final period up double figures at 47-37.
 
The Bulldogs continued their strong defensive effort in the fourth, holding the Hornets to just nine points on 4-for-14 shooting from the floor. A&M stretched their lead to 15 at the 7:36 mark and a game-high 17 two separate times over the remainder of the game, with the Bulldogs taking the 60-46 win.

Shmya Ward led Alabama State with 14 points, followed by Ayana Emmanuel who finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs led in multiple points of emphasis, including 12-6 in points off turnovers, 11-6 in second chance points and 17-2 in points off the bench. They also finished the game shooting 38.2 (21-for-55) percent from the floor, 25 (4-for-16) percent from three-point range, and 87.5 (14-for-16) percent from the free throw line in the win.
 
Up Next
The program will return to Huntsville for their next two games, starting with Texas Southern on Saturday, January 21. Tip-off is set to begin the doubleheader at 3 p.m. inside the Event Center.

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