TALLAHASSEE, FL --Mide Oriyomi hit a buzzer-beating shot with just one second left in the game to lead the Florida A&M women's basketball team over the Alabama A&M Bulldogs 69-67 at home Saturday.
The Rattlers (4-15, 2-6) had three players score in double figures, led by Oriyomi, who had 24 points, eight rebounds and three steals. Ahriahna Grizzle tacked on 19 points and Dylan Horton helped out with 11 points and two steals.
Oriyomi pulled down four offensive rebounds to lead an offense that racked up second chance opportunities for Florida A&M, grabbing 11 boards and turning them into 10 second chance points.
Florida A&M forced 18 Alabama A&M turnovers while committing 10 themselves in Saturday's game. The Rattlers turned those takeaways into 19 points on the offensive end of the floor. Oriyomi's three steals led the way for Florida A&M.
How It Happened
After falling behind 15-13, Florida A&M went on an 8-0 run with 1:42 left in the first quarter to take a 21-15 lead, a score that would hold for the rest of the period. Florida A&M capitalized on four Alabama A&M turnovers in the period, turning them into nine points on the other end of the floor.
Florida A&M kept its first quarter lead intact before going on a 7-0 run starting at the 6:25 mark in the second period, highlighted by a bucket from Horton, to increase its lead to 30-20. The Bulldogs cut into that lead, but the Rattlers still enjoyed a 31-29 advantage heading into halftime. Florida A&M dominated in the paint, scoring six of its 10 points close to the basket.
Alabama A&M then took a 37-33 lead following intermission before Florida A&M went on a 6-0 run, punctuated by a basket from Oriyomi, to grab a 39-37 lead with 2:59 to go in the third. Alabama A&M responded to seize a 45-39 lead entering the fourth quarter. Florida A&M played well near the basket, scoring four of its eight points in the paint.
Alabama A&M kept widening its lead in the fourth, constructing a 55-48 advantage before Florida A&M went on a 5-0 run, finished off by Oriyomi's layup, to shrink the deficit to 55-53 with 3:48 to go in the fourth. The Rattlers rally continued as they outscored Alabama A&M 8-6 the rest of the way to tie it at 61-61 and send the game to overtime.
Florida A&M then took care of business in extra time, outscoring Alabama A&M 8-6 to seize victory by the 69-67 final score.
Game Notes
» Oriyomi hit a buzzer beater with one second left.
» The Rattlers rallied from a six-point 45-39 third quarter deficit to force the game into overtime.
» The Rattlers held the Bulldogs to only 36.7 percent shooting from the field.
» Mide Oriyomi, Ahriahna Grizzle, and Dylan Horton combined to account for 78 percent of the Rattlers points.
» The Florida A&M defense forced 18 turnovers.
» Florida A&M cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 11 offensive boards in the game.
» Mide Oriyomi led the Rattlers with a game-high 24 points.
» Florida A&M got eight rebounds from both Paulla Weekes and Mide Oriyomi.
