YPSILANTI, Mich. | A fourth quarter surge, including a 7-0 run in less than one minute, gave the Bulldogs the push they needed to overcome the Eastern Michigan Eagles 66-57, on Saturday afternoon. The victory marks three firsts as it is the first bulldog win, first road win, and head coach Dawn Thornton's first win at the helm of the Bulldog program.  

The contests saw three Bulldogs in double figures, with Kourtney Rittenberry and Kalia Walker leading the way with 14 points apiece. Alisha Wilson paced AAMU defense with 10 rebounds and three steals, while Mo Davenport added two blocks. The Bulldogs controlled the lead for just over 21 minutes and the contest saw a tied score for almost six and a half minutes.  

The Eagles were led by Sisi Eleko's 17-points and 16 rebounds double-double. Mackenzie Amalia led EMU with four assists and two steals.  

HOW IT HAPPENED  

• Bulldogs opened the frame with two layups off EMU turnovers to jet to a quick 4-0 lead 

• Each team went point-for-point before a pair of free throws and another second-chance layup put the Bulldogs ahead 16-13 at the end of the first quarter 

• EMU picked up the defensive intensity in the second frame, picking up 14 boards 

• The Eagles saw their biggest lead in the second quarter when with just under three and a half minutes to play, they were ahead 28-23 

• Three points from Lauryn Pendleton, a steal from Wilson and a jumper from Rittenberry tied the frame 28-28 going into the break 

• The third quarter saw the closest play of the contest, with neither team leading by more than two. 

• Rittenberry shot two free throws to take the lead going into the final period 

• The Bulldogs led by five going into the first media timeout of the quarter 

• EMU shortened the lead to just one, but the Bulldogs went on a 7-0 run in 90 seconds with just over two minutes remaining in regulation (59-51) 

• A layup from Wilson and five three throws solidified the contest 66-57 in favor of the Bulldogs 

GAME NOTES  

• Alabama A&M shot 33.3 percent (19-of-57) from the field and 70 % percent (28-of-40) from the free-throw line 

• AAMU went 0-10 from behind the arc 

• The Bulldogs grabbed 40 total rebounds 

• Kourtney Rittenberry recorded 14 points, six rebounds, 3 assists and two steals 

• Kalia Walker added 14 points and went 12-13 from the line 

• Lauryn Pendleton contributed 13 points  

• Alisha Wilson paced the Bulldogs defensively, nabbing 10 rebounds and three steals in addition to her 11 points 

• The Bulldogs finished with 10 bench points, 34 points in the paint, 13 fast break points and 12 second chance points  

• The Maroon and White scored 26 points off 23 Eagles turnovers 

• The Eagles shot 34 percent (18-of-53) from the field, 66.7 percent from the line (16-24) and 20 percent (5-of-25) from behind the arc 

• EMU grabbed 41 rebounds 

• Sisi Eleko paced the Eagles with a double-double (17 points, 16 rebounds)  

• Sarah Ashlee Barker recorded 19 points, seven rebounds and three steals. 

• Brooklyn Thrash added 15 points and Mackenzie Amalia led EMU with four assists and two steals. 

• EMU finished with just four bench points, 22 points in the paint, 17 second-chance points and just three fastbreak points 

UP NEXT 

The Alabama A&M Bulldogs return to the AAMU Event Center on The Hill for three straight home games, starting with the University of Alabama at Birmingham on Tuesday. The game will also serve as the Bulldog's underclassmen day. Tip-off is slated for 5:30 p.m. and will be live streamed on Bulldogs All-Access. 

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