HUNTSVILLE, Ala. | With help from a double-double from Asianae Nicholson, the Alabama A&M University women's basketball team got their first victory of the season on Saturday, rallying from 15-down to win the home opener, 62-56, in overtime at the Event Center.
 
The Bulldogs (1-2) trailed by 15 points, 46-31, entering the final quarter and outscored the Golden Eagles, 19-4, in the fourth to force overtime. Alabama A&M pulled away in the extra stanza, 12-6, in picking up its first victory of the season.

Nicholson paced the Bulldogs with a career-high 17 rebounds, along with 10 points, for a double-double. Amiah Simmons registered a team-high 12 points, seven boards, five assists and four steals.

Amiah Simonns was the leading scorer with 12 points, seven rebounds, five assists and four steals. Darian Burgin chipped in with nine points, four rebounds and three steals.

Maaliya Owens recorded a game-high 19 points, going 6-of-13 from the floor, along with nine boards to lead Tennessee Tech (0-3). Reagan Hurst registered 11 points, two rebounds and two steals.
 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Alabama A&M raced out to a 9-4 advantage after an Alisha Wilson bucket with 3:41 remaining in the opening period and the Bulldogs took an 11-7 lead into the second period.

Tennessee Tech answered, using a 10-2 run, capped by an Owens layup, as the Golden Eagles grabbed a 17-13 lead.

A triple by Anna Walker extended the Tennessee Tech lead to 26-17 with 1:27 left in the half and The Golden Eagles stretched the margin to 28-17 after a Yaubryon Chambers bucket with 28 seconds remaining.

However, the Bulldogs closed the gap to 28-19 right before the break off a pair of free throws by Kaylah Turner.

A layup by Burgin trimmed the deficit to 28-23 with just over nine minutes to play in the third.

The Golden Eagles used a 14-4 run over the next five-plus minutes as Reghan Grimes drained a pair of free throws as Tennessee Tech pushed the lead to 42-27 with 3:26 remaining in the quarter.

A three-point play by Jayla Cody cut the deficit to 42-31 with 2:13 left, but Tennessee Tech ended the period strong, getting a free throw by Grimes and a triple at the buzzer by Owens sent the Golden Eagles into the final stanza with a 46-31 lead.

Chambers' bucket with 8:28 remaining gave the Golden Eagles a 48-34 lead, but the rest of the period belonged to the Bulldogs.
 
Alabama A&M fought back, using a 14-2 run over the next six-plus minutes as Burgin drained a key 3-pointer, cutting the margin to 40-48 with 1:16 remaining in regulation.

After a missed 3-pointer by Reagan Hurst, Wilson tied the game at 50 with 21 seconds left. The Golden Eagles had a chance to win the game, but AAMU's defense was too much as Tennessee Tech could not get off a shot as time expired, sending the game into overtime.

In the extra period, the Golden Eagles grabbed a 55-54 lead after a Hurst layup with 2:12 left, but Simmons was fouled on Alabama A&M's next possession. She sank a pair at the line, giving the Bulldogs the lead for good at 56-55 with 1:43 remaining.

Nicholson and Burgin drained free throws down the stretch and a jumper by Chynell Mitchell gave AAMU breathing room at 61-56 with eight seconds left.

After a miss 3-pointer by Owens, Simmons was fouled, making 1-of-2 from the free-throw line to seal the victory in overtime.
 
 
GAME NOTES

• Alabama A&M shot 36 percent (22-of-61) from the floor and 82.4 percent (14-of-17) from the charity stripe
• The Bulldogs registered 47 rebounds, with 16 coming off the offensive glass
• Asianae Nicholson recorded a double-double with 17 rebounds and 10 points
• Amiah Simmons tallied 12 points, seven rebounds, five assists and four steals
• Darian Burgin chipped in nine points, with four rebounds, three steals and two assists  
• The Bulldogs finished with 26 points in the paint, 19 bench points, 16-second chance points, 18 points off 23 Tennessee Tech turnovers and six fastbreak points
• Tennessee Tech went 17-of-51 shooting (33.3 percent) and 63.6 percent (14-of-22) from the free-throw line
• The Golden Eagles recorded 34 rebounds, with eight coming off the offensive glass
• Maaliya Owens posted a game-high 19 points, with nine boards and two assists
• Reagan Hurst added 11 points with two rebounds
• Tennessee Tech finished with 25 points off 26 AAMU turnovers, 18 fastbreak points, 14 points in the paint and seven second-chance points off turnovers

 
UP NEXT
Alabama A&M continues its homestand on Tuesday as the Bulldogs play host to UAH at the Event Center. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m.
 
For complete coverage of Alabama A&M Athletics, check out the official homepage at www.aamusports.com. Remember to follow us on social media: Instagram (@aamuathletics) and Twitter (@_aamuathletics).
 
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