Image via AAMU Athletics
Courtesy of Brian Howard, Assistant AD for Communications
The Alabama A&M University women’s basketball team extended its winning streak and won its sixth game by more than 20 points as the Bulldogs routed Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 82-54, in a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) game on Thursday night at the AAMU Event Center.
Alabama A&M (15-9 overall, 11-1 SWAC), which won for the 11th straight time, controlled the game from the opening tip and led 21-7 after one period and took a 44-18 advantage into the break after shooting 57.1 percent from the floor. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (9-12, 6-6) could not recover from the huge deficit in the second half as the Golden Lions saw their three-game winning streak come to an end.
Jaida Belton paced AAMU with 14 points, on 7-of-10 shooting, with six boards, one block and one steal. Kalia Walker scored eight of her 12 points in the first quarter, while Coriah Beck and Moses Davenport each recorded 11 points. Aniya Palmer chipped in 10 points and grabbed eight boards.
Indiya Bowen led Arkansas-Pine Bluff with a game-high 26 points, on 9-of-12 shooting, including five 3-pointers, while Jakyra Jackson tossed in 10 points and four boards.
First Quarter
Belton opened the scoring with a layup off an assist from Beck at the 8:23 mark, and the Bulldogs never looked back.
After UAPB briefly tied the game at 2-2, AAMU responded with an 11-2 run. Walker knocked down a three-pointer from the wing at 5:47 to push the lead to 10-4, and Beck later connected from beyond the arc at 4:17 to stretch the margin to double digits.
Walker added another three with 1:42 remaining in the quarter to cap the run and give Alabama A&M a 21-7 advantage heading into the second.
Second Quarter
The Lady Bulldogs turned up the defensive intensity in the second period, forcing turnovers that led to fast-break opportunities.
Belton scored inside at 7:45, and Rakiyah Beal followed with a three-pointer at 6:58 to extend the lead to 26-16. Moments later, Kamiyha Griffin converted two free throws, sparking a 21-6 surge that broke the game open.
Sumayah McIntosh scored on a pull-up jumper at 3:57, and Aniya Palmer added a fast-break layup off a steal at 2:23 to push the advantage to 40-16. Griffin closed the half with a layup in the paint as Alabama A&M took a commanding 44-18 lead into the locker room.
Third Quarter
Beck opened the second half with a three-pointer at 9:39 to give AAMU its largest lead to that point.
Although UAPB attempted to respond with perimeter shooting, the Bulldogs answered every run. Belton converted inside at 6:08, and Beck added two free throws midway through the quarter.
Davenport provided key second-chance buckets late in the period, scoring on back-to-back putbacks to extend the lead to 63-33. McIntosh added a jumper with 19 seconds left, sending Alabama A&M into the fourth with a 65-33 advantage.
Fourth Quarter
Alabama A&M continued its balanced attack in the final period as the Bulldogs cruised to their 11thconsecutive win.
UP NEXT
Alabama A&M continues its two-game homestand on Saturday against Mississippi Valley State. Tip-off for the Love & Basketball/Greek Night game is set for 2 p.m. from the AAMU Event Center and streamed on SWAC TV.
