DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. --The Florida A&M women's basketball team fell to the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats 57-56 on the road Saturday.
The Rattlers (1-11, 0-1) had three players score in double figures, led by Tahnyjia Purifoy, who had 16 points and two steals. Miya Giles-Jones added 11 points and eight rebounds and Shaniyah McCarthy helped out with 10 points.
Florida A&M out-rebounded Bethune-Cookman 41-34 in Saturday's game, led by Breazia Robinson's nine boards. The Rattlers also pulled down 16 offensive rebounds and scored 12 second chance points.
The Florida A&M defense held Bethune-Cookman shooters to only 33.3 percent from the field, including 13.3 percent from three-point range.
How It Happened
After playing to an 8-8 tie early in the game, Florida A&M went on a 5-0 run with 5:29 left in the first quarter, culminating in a bucket from Purifoy, to take a 13-8 lead. The Rattlers then added one point to that lead by the end of the period and entered the quarter break with a 16-10 advantage. Florida A&M did most of its first quarter damage in the paint, scoring 10 of its 16 points close to the basket.
The Rattlers used the second period to increase their lead and entered halftime with a 33-25 edge. Florida A&M saw non-starters score five of its 17 total points off the bench in the quarter.
Florida A&M continued to preserve its halftime lead before going on a 5-0 run, punctuated by a basket from Giles-Jones, to expand its lead further to 38-30 with 6:48 to go in the third. Before the conclusion of the third period, the Wildcats had cut into that lead somewhat, but the Rattlers still entered the fourth quarter with a 44-43 edge. Florida A&M played well near the basket, scoring six of its 11 points in the paint.
Bethune-Cookman proceeded to take a 49-46 lead before Florida A&M went on a 5-0 run to seize a 51-49 lead with 4:24 to go in the contest. Bethune-Cookman re-asserted control, outscoring the Rattlers 8-5 the rest of the way to hand Florida A&M the 57-56 loss. Florida A&M took advantage of its opportunities in the post, scoring six of its 12 points in the paint.
Game Notes
» Florida A&M lost on a last-second shot by Daimoni Dorsey.
» The Rattlers held the Wildcats to only 33.3 percent shooting from the field.
» Florida A&M played solid perimeter defense, holding Bethune-Cookman to 13 percent from beyond the arc on 15 attempts.
» Florida A&M lost despite a 41-34 rebounding advantage.
» The Florida A&M defense forced 16 turnovers.
» The Rattlers were active in affecting shots on the defensive end, recording six blocks as a team.
» Florida A&M cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 16 offensive boards in the game.
» Tahnyjia Purifoy led the Rattlers with 16 points.
» Florida A&M got a game-high 9 rebounds from Breazia Robinson.
