HUNTSVILLE, Ala. | A 30-point career-high performance from Amiah Simmons helped the Alabama A&M University women's basketball team rally from a 17-point deficit as the Bulldogs snapped a two-game losing streak with a 71-69 victory in a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) game on Saturday at the AAMU Event Center.

Alabama A&M (9-11 overall, 4-4 SWAC) trailed by as many as 17 points during the final eight minutes of the fourth quarter. But the Bulldogs used a 35-point quarter to pull off the come-from-behind victory.

Simmons paced the Bulldogs with a team-high 30 points, five assists, four rebounds, and four steals. Kaylah Turner registered 11 points, five assists and two rebounds. Darian Burgin posted 10 points, three rebounds two assists and one steal, while Alisha Wilson grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds.

Ahriahna Grizzle led Florida A&M (4-15, 3-5) with a game-high 31 points with seven rebounds, four assists and four steals. Olivia Delancy recorded 19 points, three assists, three steals, two blocks and two rebounds.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Both teams went back-and-forth early as Turner knocked down a 3-pointer as Alabama A&M grabbed an 11-7 lead within the first five minutes of the contest.
• Florida A&M closed out the quarter with a 10-1 run, capped by a Grizzle 3-pointer, as the Rattlers went into the second period with a 17-14 advantage.
• After a pair of Simmons free throws, AAMU took a 24-21 lead, with 5:11 remaining in the half.
• The Rattlers went cold from the floor, going nearly four minutes without a field goal, as a pair of Victoria Dixon free throws pushed the lead to 29-22. The Bulldogs went into the break with a 29-26 advantage.
• AAMU opened the third quarter on a cold stretch, going four minutes without a bucket as Florida A&M used a 11-0 run, capped by a Grizzle jumper, giving the Rattlers a 33-29 with 8:20 in the third period.
• FAMU pushed the margin 42-31, after a three-point play by Grizzle, with 4:41 remaining in the third quarter.
• The Rattlers entered the final quarter with a 53-36 advantage after holding the Bulldogs to only seven points in the third period.
• An Aina Subirats 3-pointer stretched the margin 58-41 with 8:42 remaining 
• The Bulldogs made it a 63-51 game after a 3-pointer from Turner with 5:54 remaining.
• Alabama A&M trimmed the deficit to five, using a 12-2 run, capped by a Wilson lay-up with 2:43, closing the gap to 65-60.
• A Burgin 3-pointer cut the deficit to 67-65. However, a pair of Aina Subirats free throws gave FAMU a  69-65 advantage with a minute left.
• Simmons answered back with a 3-pointer, trimming the margin to  69-68 with 48 seconds remaining.
• After a FAMU turnover on its next offensive possession, Wilson drained the go-ahead bucket with 10 seconds left and Burgin added a free throw as Alabama A&M completed the come-from-behind win.

GAME NOTES

• Alabama A&M shot 35.3 percent (24-of-68) from the field and 76.5 percent (13-of-17) from the free-throw line
• AAMU grabbed 41 rebounds, with 24 coming off the offensive glass
• Amiah Simmons posted a team-high 30 points, five assists, four rebounds. four steals
• Kaylah Turner tallied 11 points, five assists and two rebounds
• Darian Burgin chipped in 10 points, three rebounds and two assists and a steal
• The Bulldogs finished with 24 points in the paint, 23 second-chance points, 21 points off 18 FAMU turnovers, 11 bench points and eight fastbreak points
• Florida A&M went 21-of-48 shooting (43.8 percent) and 21-of-25 (84 percent) from the foul line
• Ahriahna Grizzle recorded a game-high 31 points, seven rebounds, four assists and four steals
• Olivia Delancy added 19 points, three steals, three assists and two rebounds
• The Rattlers finished with 24 points in the paint, 15 points off 17 AAMU turnovers, 11 second-chance points and nine fastbreak points

UP NEXT
Alabama A&M concludes its short two-game homestand on Monday as the Bulldogs play host to Bethune-Cookman on First Responders/Military Appreciation Night. Tip-off against the Wildcats is set for 5:30 p.m. from the AAMU Event Center and streamed 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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