MONTGOMERY, Ala. | The Alabama A&M University women's basketball team broke yet another record after defeating in-state Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) rival Alabama State, 71-63 on Saturday afternoon. The win marks the Maroon and White's first 20-win season in the Division I era. The victory also proved to be historic as it notched AAMU head coach Dawn Thornton's first 20-win season.

The Bulldogs fought back from a 6-2 deficit to take a 19-10 lead before the Hornets went on a 15 point run to take control of the contest until late in the third quarter when the Bulldogs regained their footing and ultimately emerged victorious. AAMU saw three Bulldogs finish in double figures. Kalia Walker led the way with 21 points, 19 of them scored in the second half. Alisha Wilson recorded 18 points and 10 rebounds to go along with three blocks and three steals. Lauryn Pendleton added 14 points, 11 of them coming in the second half.

Alabama State was led on both sides of the ball by Cordasia Harris, who tallied 18 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks. Taylor Smith added 13 points and two steals, while Kaitlyn Bryant picked up 10 points and two steals. The Hornets have now lost four straight contests as they head into the final week of regular season action.

HOW IT HAPPENED  

The host team were first to get on the board and took a short 6-2 lead before the Bulldogs took went on a 17-4 run to go ahead 19-10 with just under two minutes remaining in the opening frame 
The Hornets scored seven straight to end the quarter down a pair, 19-17 
Alabama State used the momentum from the end of the first to score eight more unanswered points to take a 25-19 lead with less than six minutes remaining in the half 
The Bulldogs finally saw an offensive break as Wilson got to the paint and sunk a jumper before Mailyn Wilkerson saw a shot from deep float to the bottom of the net to bring the contest within three.  
Each team scored five more points, but the host team went into the break with control of the contest (32-29) 
Walker opened the second half with a second-chance layup off an ASU turnover before Pendleton shot a pair of foul shots to come within one of the frame.  
Less than a minute later, Pendleton was back at the line, making both shots to tie the contest 
ASU scored three more but got into foul trouble, allowing AAMU to convert shots at the line to take a slim 39-38 lead, the first Maroon and White lead since the opening stanza (4:08) 
The Hornets regained control briefly after a jumper from Kristian Jackson, then again after a free throw from Bryant (45-44) 
Both Pendleton and Wilkerson shot a jumper which ended the quarter in favor of the visitors (48-47) 
The Maroon and White opened the final stanza with five consecutive points, highlighted by a three-pointer from Pendleton. 
Bryant added two for the Hornets, but AAMU went on a 10-4 run to enter the final media timeout with a 10 point lead (63-53) 
AAMU saw their largest lead of the contest after a four-point play from Walker which put the Bulldogs in front 71-58. (2:46) 
Smith and Jackson scored a combined five more points, but it was not enough, as the Bulldogs claimed the second victory over the Hornets this season. 

GAME NOTES  

• Alabama A&M shot 50.0 percent (23-46) from the field and 45% percent (5-of-11) from behind the arc  
• AAMU went 20-27 (74 percent) from the line  
• The Bulldogs grabbed 31 total rebounds, 18 of them defensively  
• Kalia Walker led the way with 21 points, 19 of them scored in the second half.  
• Alisha Wilson recorded 18 points and 10 rebounds to go along with three blocks and three steals.  
• Lauryn Pendleton added 14 points, 11 of them coming in the second half. 
• The Bulldogs finished with 32 points in the paint, 18 bench points, and 22 points from 19 Hornet turnovers   
• AAMU outscored the Hornets 41-32 in the second half 
• Alabama State shot 46 percent (26-of-57) from the field, 55 percent from the line (6-11), and 28 percent (5-18) from behind the arc  
• ASU grabbed 30 rebounds  
• Alabama State was paced by Cordasia Harris' 18 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks 
• Taylor Smith added 13 points and two steals 
• Kaitlyn Bryant picked up 10 points two steals 
• The Hornets saw 32 points in the paint, 30 bench points, and 21 points from 19 Bulldog turnovers 

UP NEXT 

The Maroon and White head to Louisiana for their final two games of regular season play, as they face the Grambling State Tigers and the Southern University Jaguars on Thursday and Saturday, respectively.

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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