THE HILL | The Bulldogs tallied 16 points in the final frame, but it would not be enough as the Alabama A&M women's basketball team (15-8, 8-3 SWAC) fell 50-44 to the Southern University Jaguars (10-13, 8-2) on Saturday afternoon.

After scoring just six points in the third quarter, the Bulldogs increased their intensity to go six of 15 from the field, including a pair of triples from Kalia Walker, to reduce their lead to just one after being down by as many as 10. Senior guard Alisha Wilson was the lone Maroon and White to finish in double figures after scoring 15 points, tacking on 17 rebounds and adding one block for her 11th double-double of the season and 50th of her career. Walker contributed nine points while Lauryn Pendleton tallied eight points of her own. Jaiyah Harris-Smith led the contest with four assists and three steals on the afternoon.

The Jaguars were paced by a 20-point and seven rebound performance from Aniya Gourdine. Aleighyah Fontenot, Dakiyah Sanders and Soniyah Reed each tacked on two assists while Fontenot, D'Shantae Edwards and Jocelyn Tate added a team-high two steals. With the victory, SU now moves to 28-8 in the overall series with the Bulldogs, including four of the last five meetings.

HOW IT HAPPENED  

AAMU jetted to an 8-0 lead but SU responded with an 8-2 run of their own level the contest to one possession with just over two and a half minutes remaining in the opening frame 
A pair of jumpers from Pendleton gave the Bulldogs the lead as they entered the second quarter (14-10) 
The Jaguars once again reduced their lead to two but a jumper from Tia Harvey and another jump shot from Pendleton gave put the host team ahead six right out of the media timeout 
A three pointer and field goal from Southern threatened the Bulldogs' control, and after both teams scored a pair, AAMU went into the break with a slim one-point lead 
AAMU struggled offensively in the third stanza as the visitors outscored them 17-6 
The Maroon and White picked up 10 rebounds compared to the Jaguars' three in the third quarter, but were unable to convert on the other side of the ball which gave way for SU to take their largest lead of the game to this point (38-28) 
AAMU entered the final frame with a 9-0 run, courtesy of five points from Walker and a pair of shots from Darian Burgin to come within one of leveling the score (38-37) 
After an SU foul shot, Walker sunk her second triple of the quarter and drew a foul resulting in a four-point play that gave the Bulldogs the lead with a little over four minutes remaining (41-39) 
The visitors scored nine unanswered points before AAMU was able to tally three points (48-44; 0:35) 
A pair of free throws from Gourdine solidified the contest, 50-44, in favor of Southern 

GAME NOTES  

• Alabama A&M shot 35.3 percent (18-51) from the field and 14.3 percent (2-14) from beyond the arc  
• AAMU went 6-11 (54.5 percent) from the free throw line  
• The Bulldogs snagged 33 rebounds 
• Alisha Wilson scored her 11th double-double of the season with 15 points, 17 rebounds and one block 
• Walker contributed nine points while Lauryn Pendleton tallied eight  
• Jaiyah Harris-Smith led the contest with four assists and three steals 
• AAMU finished with 24 points in the paint, 10 bench points, and 19 points from 19 Jaguar turnovers  
• Southern finished with 22 points in the paint, 21 bench points, and 17 points from 20 Bulldog turnovers  
• The Jags shot 38 percent (19-50) from the field, 76.9 percent (10-13) from the line and 12.5 (2-16) beyond the arc 
• Aniya Gourdine led SU on both sides of the ball, showcasing a team-high 20 points and seven rebounds 

UP NEXT
The Bulldogs hit the road to face the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and Mississippi Valley State for the second time this season. Tip-off on Thursday is set for 6 p.m. while Saturday's doubleheader is scheduled to start with the women's game at 4 p.m.  

For complete coverage of Alabama A&M Athletics – Huntsville's only Division I program - 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). 

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