HUNTSVILLE – The Alabama A&M women's basketball team began the 2023 calendar year with a home win against Arkansas-Pine Bluff by a score of 67-58 on Monday afternoon to open Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) play.

The Bulldogs (3-8, 1-0 SWAC) led the game for over 25 minutes of play in the home win, led by 22 points from Taylor Smith (Fosters, Ala.) and 16 points and three rebounds from Toni Grace (Fishers, Ind.).

After an opening score inside from Darian Burgin (Cincinnati, Ohio), Alabama A&M found themselves trailing 7-4 minutes later before regaining a one-point lead at the 6:38 mark. UAPB regained the lead with four unanswered points heading into the first media timeout up 11-8.
 
With under two minutes to play, Burgin scored in the paint again to reduce the deficit to a point, followed by a pair of free throws from Amiah Simmons (Osawatomie, Kan.) to gain a short lead, however, the quarter ended with the Bulldogs trailing 16-14.
 
The two teams traded points early in the second, seeing a pair of tie scores, the last being at 21-21 halfway through the frame. From there, A&M went on a 15-6 run to close out the quarter, including 11 points from Smith in the period and took a 36-24 lead into the half.
 
The Bulldogs started strong in the third, opening the quarter with a 10-2 run to find themselves up 46-31 with just under six minutes to play. The Golden Lions responded to cut the lead to eight with a run at the 2:30 mark, and the third ended with A&M holding a 50-42 lead.
 
A&M made a push for a double figure lead again early in the fourth with a 12-point lead with just over eight minutes to play, however saw their lead dwindled to six on two occasions, the last with 1:40 to play, but closed out the game at the free throw line for the 67-58 win.

The Bulldogs finished the game with shooting splits of 47.6 (20-for-42) percent from the field, 36.4 (4-for-11) percent from deep and 76.7 (23-for-30) from the free throw line yet were outscored in four of the major statistical categories including bench points (24-7), points in the paint (40-26), points off turnover (22-14), and second chance points (29-4).

Up Next
The Bulldogs are back in action on Wednesday, January 4 as they host Mississippi Valley State for their second SWAC game of the season. Tip-off for the contest is set for 5 p.m. in the Event Center.
 
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