MIAMI, Fla. | The Alabama A&M University women's basketball team could not recover from a big deficit in the fourth quarter as the Bulldogs fell, 87-63, to FIU on Tuesday during the second day of the MTE Christmas Classic at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center.
 
Alabama A&M (5-5) cut the lead to 11 entering the fourth quarter, but FIU (7-5) shot 85 percent in the final period and didn't look back in picking up the victory.
 
Darian Burgin paced the Bulldogs with 15 points, on 5-of-10 shooting, and added three boards, one assist and one steal. Amiah Simmons recorded 14 points, on 7-of-13 shooting, while adding four assists, two rebounds and a steal. Kaylah Turner posted nine points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals.
 
Ajae Yoakum led the FIU offense with a game-high 30 points, on 10-of-11 shooting, along with seven boards. Mya Kone posted a double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds. Courtney Prenger tallied 11 points, four rebounds and two blocks.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Alabama A&M began the game with a 10-9 lead following a hook shot from Chynell Mitchell with 3:34 remaining in the first quarter.

FIU answered with a 6-0 run, capped by a jumper from Pregner, sending the Panthers into the second period with a 15-10 advantage.

The Panthers stretched their lead to 26-14 following a Kone layup with 6:42 remaining in the second quarter.

The Bulldogs went nearly four minutes without a field goal as the Panthers used an 8-0 run, capped by a Yoakum jumper, giving FIU a 34-18 lead with 1:40 left in the half.

Two free throws from  Asianae Nicholson cut the deficit to 14 as the Bulldogs went into the break trialing, 34-20.

A layup by Knone kept the FIU lead to 14 (41-27) just three minutes into the second half.

The Bulldogs made it 41-31 after a couple of free throws from Burgin with 6:26 remaining in the third period.

Two Yoakum free throws pushed the Panthers margin to 15, 50-35, with 4:15 remaining in the third period.

Alabama A&M cut the deficit to 52-43 following an 8-2 run, which was capped off after a Kailyn Nash layup with 2:43 remaining in the third quarter.

Turner knocked down a jumper at the buzzer as Alabama A&M went into the final period trailing, 60-49.

FIU pushed its lead to 15 after a layup from Yoakum, giving the Panthers a 68-53 advantge early in the fourth quarter.  

The Panthers held AAMU scoreless for nearly the last three minutes as the Bulldogs could not rally.
 
GAME NOTES

• Alabama A&M shot 38.5 percent (25-of-65) from the floor and 81.3 percent (13-of-16) from the charity stripe
• AAMU pulled down 29 rebounds, 16 coming off the defensive glass
• Darian Burgin recorded 15 points, three rebounds, one assist and one steal
• Amiah Simmons registered 12 points, four assists, two rebounds and one steal
• Kaylah Turner chipped in nine points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals
•  The Bulldogs finished with 36 points in the paint, 21 bench points, 15 points off 14 FIU turnovers, 12 fastbreak points and four second-chance points
• FIU went 30-of-55 (54.5 percent) from the floor and 88 percent (22-of-25) from the free throw line
• The Cougars grabbed 39 rebounds, with 29 coming off the defensive glass
• Ajae Yoakum posted a game-high 30 points and seven rebounds
• Mya Kone tallied a double-double with 18 points, 10 rebounds and two assists
• Courtney Prenger added 11 points, four rebounds and two blocks
•  The Panthers finished with 42 points in the paint, 25 bench points, 14 second-chance points, 11 points off nine AAMU turnovers and 10 bench points

 
UP NEXT
Alabama A&M finishes the MTE Christmas Classic on Wednesday against Texas State. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. (CT) at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center
 
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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