DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. | The Alabama A&M University women's basketball team used a big third quarter and didn't look back as the Bulldogs rolled past Bethune-Cookman in a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) play on Thursday night at Moore Gymnasium.
Alabama A&M (13-7 overall, 6-2 SWAC) led 28-25 at the half, but used a 20-point third quarter and took a 48-37 advantage into the final period. The Bulldogs outscored the Wildcats, 18-12, in the fourth to seal the conference win.
Lauryn Pendleton was one of four AAMU players to post double figures, with 17 points, six assists, five boards and four steals.
Kalia Walker added 15 points, four boards, two assists and one steal, while
Mailyn Wilkerson recorded 11 points, one rebound, one assist and one steal.
Darian Burgin tossed in 10 points, three boards and a pair of assists.
Asianae Nicholson, who spent last season at Alabama A&M, led Bethune-Cookman 6-14, 3-5) with a double-double of 13 points and 12 rebounds, along with three steals and two blocks. Daimoni Dorsey registered 11 points, three boards, three steals and one assist.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Both teams started slow as Alabama A&M grabbed a 13-8 advantage after a Burgin layup with 28 seconds left in the opening quarter, but Bethune-Cookman closed the gap to just three points, 13-10, at the end of the first.
The Bulldogs started the second strong, using an 8-2 run, capped by a Pendleton jumper with 7:21 remaining.
But the Wildcats continued to keep the game close, cutting the deficit to 28-25 right before the half.
Bethune-Cookman cut the margin to 40-37 after a Nicholson bucket with 1:36 remaining in the third, but Alabama A&M used a furious 8-0 run down the stretch to take a 48-37 advantage into the final quarter.
AAMU extended its lead to 53-37 after two
Alisha Wilson free throws with 7:48 left and after a bucket by Burgin, the Bulldogs stretched the advantage to 57-40 with just over six minutes remaining.
Bethune-Cookman could not recover from the huge deficit as Alabama A&M cruised to the victory.
GAME NOTES
- Alabama A&M shot 40.8 percent (20-of-49) from the field and 79.2 percent (19-of-24) from the free-throw line
- The Bulldogs grabbed 34 rebounds, with 21 coming off the defensive glass
- Lauryn Pendleton registered 17 points, six assists, five boards and four steals
- Kalia Walker added 15 points, four boards, two assists and one steal
- Mailyn Wilkerson recorded 11 points, one rebound, one assist and one steal
- Darian Burgin tossed in 10 points, three boards and a pair of assists
- Alabama A&M finished with 26 points off 27 BCU turnovers, 16 points in the paint, 14 bench points, 11 second-chance points and 10 fastbreak points
- Bethune-Cookman went 19-of-48 shooting (39.6 percent) and 10-of-18 (55.6 percent) from the charity stripe
- The Wildcats grabbed 31 rebounds, including 11 on the offensive end
- Asianae Nicholson finished with a double-double of 13 points and a game-high 12 rebounds
- Daimoni Dorsey tallied 11 points, three boards, three steals and one assist
UP NEXT
Alabama A&M closes out its two-game road trip on Saturday as the Bulldogs visit Florida A&M. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m. (central) from the Al Lawson Center and streamed on the SWAC Digital Network.
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), Facebook (aamubulldogathletics), Twitter (@_aamuathletics) and TikTok (aamuathletics).
