MOBILE, Ala. | Victoria Dixon finished with a game-high 16 points as the Alabama A&M University women's basketball team got back into the win column on Monday with a 66-49 Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) victory in the Bridge Builder Classic at the Mitchell Center.

After a sluggish first half, Alabama A&M (8-9 overall, 3-2 SWAC) scored 43 second-half points and held Alabama State to just 27 percent from the floor in the third quarter. The Hornets (1-15, 1-4) never got any closer than 12 points in the final period.

Dixon shot 6-of-9 from the floor and 6-of-9 from the foul line to pace the Bulldogs, along with two rebounds and one steal. Amiah Simmons registered 15 points, five boards, two steals and one assist, while Alisha Wilson posted her third double-double of the season, 11 points and 11 boards, and also added a team-high three blocked shots and two assists.

Cordasia Harris led Alabama State with 12 points, five boards, three steals and three blocks. DaKiyah Sanders added nine points, four boards, one assist and one steal.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Alabama A&M trailed 5-0 early, but used a dominating 17-2 run, capped by a Dixon jumper as the Bulldogs grabbed a 17-7 advantage with 3:30 remaining in the opening quarter.

Alabama State closed the quarter strong, cutting the deficit to 17-11 after a bucket by Harris.

A Wilson layup gave AAMU a 19-11 lead with 9:32 remaining in the first half and extended the margin to 23-13 after a Kaylah Turner jumper with 6:18 left.

However, the Hornets cut the deficit to 23-17 with just over a minute to play after a free throw by Solangele Akridge.

Alabama State began the second half with a 7-0 run, following an Ashley Gray layup, giving the Hornets a 26-25 lead early in the third quarter.

The Bulldogs answered with an 11-3 run following an Asianae Nicholson free throw, giving AAMU a 36-28 with 3:36 remaining in the third.

Alabama State went seven minutes without a field goal, sending Alabama A&M into the final period with a 44-34 advantage.

Alabama A&M stretched the lead 57-40 after a Wilson layup with 6:12 remaining.

Alabama State never got closer than 12 points in the final five minutes.
 
GAME NOTES

• Alabama A&M shot 40 percent (22-of-55) from the floor and 77.8 percent (21-of-27) from the charity stripe
• AAMU pulled down 43 rebounds, 30 coming off the defensive glass
• Victoria Dixon tallied 16 points, three assists, two rebounds and one steal
• Amiah Simmons added 15 points, five rebounds, two steals and one assist
• Alisha Wilson recorded a double-double with 11 points, 11 rebounds along with three blocks and two assists
• The Bulldogs finished with 30 points in the paint, 27 bench points, 23 points off 19 ASU turnovers 10 second-chance points and eight fastbreak points
• Alabama State went 13-of-42 shooting (31 percent) and 22-of-34 (64.7 percent) from the charity stripe
• ASU recorded 27 rebounds with 21 coming off the defensive glass
• Cordasia Harris posted 12 points, five rebounds, three blocks and three steals
• DaKiyah Sanders chipped in nine points, four rebounds, one assist and one steal  
• Alabama State finished with 24 points in the paint, 19 points off 17 AAMU turnovers, 11 bench points, eight fastbreak points and six second-chance points

UP NEXT
Alabama A&M will take some significant time out before returning to action on Saturday, Jan. 27 at Texas Southern. Tip-off against the Tigers is scheduled 3 p.m. and streamed on HBCU GO. 
 
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) Twitter (@_aamuathletics). 
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