TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Florida A&M women's basketball returns home for a key SWAC week, hosting Alabama A&M on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. and Alabama State on Saturday at 4 p.m. Both games will air on SWAC TV.
Scouting Florida A&M
Florida A&M has leaned into a rugged style built on rim protection, aggressive work on the offensive glass, and a steady diet of free throws. The Rattlers are among the national leaders in getting to the line and converting opportunities:
- Free throw volume is elite: 21.08 FT attempts per game (national rank 29) and 14.83 made per game (national rank 33).
- Offensive rebounding travels: 13.5 offensive rebounds per game (national rank 74)—a real second-chance engine.
- Shot blocking is a weapon: 2.5 blocks per game, with Breazia Robinson ranking highly nationally in both total blocks and blocks per game (33 blocks; 1.43 per game).
Where Florida A&M has been challenged is the "spacing + decision-making" side of offense:
- Assists/Turnovers: Assist/turnover ratio 0.48 (national rank 348), with 9.0 assists per game (national rank 354).
- Turnovers: 18.5 turnovers per game (conference rank 3), contributing to a -1.13 turnover margin.
- Perimeter production: 3-point shooting has been a major drag—22.4% from three (national rank 357) with only 2.9 made threes per game (national rank 359).
Defensively, Florida A&M has had stretches of solid half-court resistance (41.7% opponent FG, conference rank 7), but overall execution has to tighten:
- Scoring defense: 70.8 points allowed per game (national rank 307).
- Fouls: 19.5 per game (national rank 324), which can hand opponents free points and momentum.
Key Rattlers to know
- Tahnyjia Purifoy – The Rattlers' tempo-setter and pressure valve.
- 3.4 assists per game (conference rank 2).
- Gets to the stripe: 111 FT attempts (conference rank 2) and 92 total free throws made (conference leader).
- Efficient at the line: 82.9% FT shooting (national rank 97).
- Breazia Robinson – The rim deterrent.
- 1.43 blocks per game (conference rank 2) with strong national placement in total blocks.
Matchup themes: what will decide the week
1) Can Florida A&M win the possession battle?
The Rattlers can "create points" without making jumpers by stacking offensive rebounds and free throws. Against Alabama A&M and Alabama State, the formula is simple: win second-chance points, keep turnovers down, and make it a free-throw game.
2) Three-point math vs. free-throw math
Florida A&M doesn't rely on threes (12.8 attempts; 2.9 makes). The Rattlers must keep their alternative scoring paths open by attacking downhill, posting with purpose, and converting at the line.
3) Discipline without losing edge
FAMU's aggressiveness has to be smart aggressiveness—defend with physicality without sending opponents to the stripe in bunches.
4) Late-game execution
In tight fourth quarters, FAMU's cleanest offense often comes from direct actions that lead to layups, post touches and put-backs, or free throws—areas where Purifoy's decision-making and composure are critical.
Opponent capsule: Alabama A&M (Thursday • 6:30 p.m. • SWAC TV)
Alabama A&M arrives as one of the SWAC's most statistically complete teams—especially on the defensive end—built to win grind-it-out games.
Why Alabama A&M is dangerous
- Conference-best field goal percentage: 40.4% (SWAC rank 1).
- Conference-best field goal percentage defense: 37.2% (SWAC rank 1).
- Conference-best scoring defense: 57.6 allowed per game (national rank 29, SWAC rank 1).
- Lives at the line: 22.88 FT attempts per game (national rank 8, SWAC rank 1) and 15.12 FT made per game (SWAC rank 1).
- Controls the glass: +4.4 rebound margin (SWAC rank 1) with 13.7 offensive rebounds per game.
Player to know
- Kaila Walker – A separator late.
- 88.8% at the free-throw line (national rank 18, SWAC leader).
What Florida A&M must do vs AAMU
- Value the basketball: Alabama A&M forces 20.64 turnovers per game (national rank 30).
- Rebound with five: don't allow free put-backs that fuel their defense.
- Match their free-throw pressure: keep attacking the rim to stay even at the stripe.
Opponent capsule: Alabama State (Saturday • 4 p.m. • SWAC TV)
Alabama State is built to be physical and rebound-driven, and the numbers back it up: the Hornets lead the league in rebounds per game (40.63)—a direct challenge to a Florida A&M team that scores extra points through offensive rebounding.
What makes Alabama State challenging
- Rebounding identity: If Alabama State controls the defensive glass, it cuts off one of FAMU's best scoring pathways (second-chance points).
- Half-court grind: Expect a game where every cut, box-out, and loose ball possession matters.
What Florida A&M must do vs ASU
- Protect the paint without fouling: stay vertical and finish possessions.
- Win the "one-shot" battle: limit Alabama State's extra chances while creating your own via FAMU's O-board strength.
- Let Purifoy close: in a likely possession-by-possession fourth quarter, FAMU's best offense is downhill pressure that leads to free throws.
