THE HILL | Kalia Walker scored 13 of her game-high 19 points in the first half as the Alabama A&M University women's basketball team held off Florida A&M, 63-50, to win its eighth straight game on Saturday in a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) contest at the AAMU Event Center.
Walker led the way for the Bulldogs (12-9 overall, 8-1 SWAC) with 19 points, five rebounds, one assist and one steal.
Coriah Beck tossed in 10 points, four boards, four assists and two steals, while
Moses Davenport posted eight points.
Shaniyah McCarthy paced Florida A&M with 13 points, while Tahnyja Purifoy chipped in 10 as the Rattlers fell to 5-15 and 4-5 in league play.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Alabama A&M jumped out to an early advantage, with Kaila Walker knocking down a corner three just 20 seconds into the contest. The Bulldogs forced multiple early turnovers, turning defensive stops into transition opportunities. A layup from
Rakiyah Beal and a jumper by Walker helped build an 8-0 run and an early 17-8 lead after one quarter.
In the second frame, the Bulldog defense clamped down.
Coriah Beck converted a steal into a layup and added a free throw, while interior pressure limited the Rattlers to just five points in the period. An offensive rebound and putback three from Walker pushed the lead to 30-13, and the defense carried Alabama A&M into the locker room ahead 31-15 at halftime.
Alabama A&M carried the momentum into the third quarter, opening the stanza with an aggressive push inside.
Moses Davenport scored on the block, and Walker's free tosses extended the margin. A 6-1 run early in the half ballooned the lead to 37-16 before late baskets kept the Bulldogs comfortably ahead 49-29 entering the fourth.
The Rattlers mounted a run midway through the fourth, trimming the deficit to single digits, but Alabama A&M responded behind clutch free-throw shooting and a defensive stop by Beck that led to a late score. Free throws down the stretch helped seal the 63-50 victory.
UP NEXT
Alabama A&M returns to the road as the Bulldogs visit Grambling State on Thursday. Tip-off against the Tigers is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. from the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center and streamed on SWAC TV.
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