HUNTSVILLE, Ala. | Kaylah Turner's 18 points and Amiah Simmons 16 points helped the Alabama A&M University women's basketball team to their 12th straight home victory on Wednesday at the AAMU Event Center with a 70-57 victory over North Alabama during Elementary School Day.
 
The Bulldogs (3-3) led by seven entering the fourth quarter but used a 10-2 run to pull away and secure the third straight home victory of the 2023-24 season.

"It is exciting to get this win and I always tell our girls to protect our home court," Bulldogs head coach Marget Richards "I am so proud of them. It was a shared effort from everyone. Any win in this state is historical for this program."
 
Alabama A&M came into the game winless in 14 tries over North Alabama. But Wednesday the Bulldogs used a dominating second half to pick up the programs first win over the Lions.
 
Turner paced AAMU with a team-high 18 points, shooting 7-of-12 from the field, along with three rebounds, three assists and one steal. Simmons tallied 16 points, with three assists, two boards and two steals. Alisha Wilson chipped in 12 points, eight rebounds, two assists, two blocks and two steals.
 
Alexis Callins and Rhema Pegues each recorded a team-high 14 points to lead North Alabama (2-5). Alyssa Clutter tallied 11 points, going 5-of-6 from the floor, along with five rebounds, two assists and one block.
 
 HOW IT HAPPENED
The Bulldogs got out of the gate quickly, racing out to an 11-4 advantage after a Wilson bucket just four minutes into the opening quarter.

However, North Alabama responded with a 9-2 run, capped by a Callins jumper, tying the game at 13 with 2:18 left.

The Lions pushed the margin to 19-13 as Rhema Pegues drained a triple with 1:41 remaining in the quarter.

Pegues' trey with 8:22 left gave UNA a 24-17 advantage, but Alabama A&M rallied as Simmons banged home a 3-pointer, cutting the deficit to 27-23 with 5:43 remaining.

The Bulldogs closed the gap to 29-27 after a Turner free throw with 2:52 left, but a layup by Sara Wohlgemuth pushed the lead to 31-27 with just over a minute to play in the half.

A free throw by Darian Burgin right before the break sent the Bulldogs into the half, trailing 31-28.

Alabama A&M grabbed the lead, with the help of an 11-2 run, during the first three minutes of the second half, taking a 39-33 advantage after a Simmons trey with 6:48 left.

A Wohlgemuth three cut the lead to 41-38 with five minutes left in the third period, but the Bulldogs responded with a 9-0 run, capped by a pair of free throws by Kailyn Nash, extending the advantage to 50-38 with just over two minutes remaining in the third.

The Lions never got any closer than eight points, 51-43, during the final quarter as the Bulldogs used a 10-3 run to pull away from North Alabama and win their third home game of the season.
 
GAME NOTES

• Alabama A&M shot 48 percent (26-of-54) from the floor and 68.4 percent (13-of-19) from the charity stripe
• The Bulldogs registered 28 boards, with six coming off the offensive glass
• Kaylah Turner tallied a game-high 18 points, three boards and three assists
• Amiah Simmons recorded 16 points, three assists and two steals
• Alisha Wilson chipped in 12 points, eight rebounds, two assists and two steals
• The Bulldogs finished with 26 points in the paint, 26 bench points, 26 points off 21 UNA turnovers, and seven second-chance points
• North Alabama went 21-of-51 (41.2 percent) and 60 percent (9-of-15) from the free throw line
• The Lions recorded 34 rebounds with 24 coming off the defensive glass
• Alexis Callins posted a team-high 14 points with two boards and an assist
• Rhema Pegues tallied 14 points, three rebounds, one assist and one steal
• UNA finished with 30 points in the paint, 23 bench points, 13 points off 13 AAMU turnovers, 13 second chance points and four fastbreak points

 
UP NEXT
Alabama A&M looks to extend the program-best winning streak to 13 games as the Bulldogs play host to South Carolina State on Sunday, Dec. 10. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. at the AAMU Event Center and the game will be streamed live on Bulldogs All-Access.
 
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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