MONTGOMERY, Al. --Breazia Robinson delivered a dominant defensive performance with seven blocks and 11 points, but the Florida A&M women's basketball team came up short in a hard-fought 75–64 road contest against Alabama State on Thursday night.
Tahnyjia Purifoy led the Rattlers with 18 points and three steals, while Shaniyah McCarthy added 11 points, four assists, and two steals to round out a balanced offensive effort for Florida A&M.
The Rattlers showed toughness on the glass, capitalizing on second-chance opportunities by converting 13 offensive rebounds into 13 points. McCarthy paced the effort with three offensive boards, helping Florida A&M stay within striking distance throughout the game.
Defensively, the Rattlers applied consistent pressure, forcing 29 Alabama State turnovers and turning those defensive stops into 29 points. Purifoy spearheaded the effort with a team-high three steals, while Robinson anchored the paint with her shot-blocking presence.
How It Happened
Florida A&M weathered an early push from Alabama State and trailed 20–13 after the opening quarter before heading into halftime down 35–26.
The Rattlers came out of the break with renewed energy. After Alabama State stretched its lead to 46–29, Florida A&M responded with a 10–0 run to cut the margin to 46–39 midway through the third quarter. Behind aggressive defense and improved execution, the Rattlers continued to apply pressure, closing the quarter within striking distance at 53–46. Florida A&M capitalized on eight Alabama State turnovers in the period, converting them into nine points.
In the fourth quarter, the Rattlers once again refused to go away. After Alabama State built a late cushion, Florida A&M closed the game on a 7–0 run, trimming the deficit to 75–64 in the final minute.
Game Notes
- Breazia Robinson made an impact on the defensive end with seven blocks in the game.
- The Florida A&M defense forced 29 turnovers.
- The Rattlers were active in affecting shots on the defensive end.
- Florida A&M cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 13 offensive boards in the game.
- Tahnyjia Purifoy led the Rattlers with 18 points.
- Florida A&M got a team-high seven rebounds from Brooklyn Swann.
