Image via Alabama A&M Athletics
Courtesy of Brian Howard, Assistant AD for Communications, Alabama A&M
THE HILL | The Alabama A&M University women’s basketball team used a big run toward the end of the third quarter and did not look back in a 72-57 victory over North Alabama on Wednesday night at the AAMU Event Center.
Alabama A&M (4-7) struggled from the floor shooting in the first quarter, going 3-for-16 from the field, and trailed by as many as 11 points. However, the Bulldogs bounced back by outscoring the Lions by 10 points (25-15) in the third quarter and pulled away in the final to earn the home victory.
Kalia Walker scored all 15 of her points in the second half and added four assists, two rebounds and one steal. Aniya Palmer registered 10 points, six boards, three steals and two assists, while Moses Davenport chipped in 10 points, five boards, two assists, two steals and a pair of blocks. Jaida Belton poured in 10 points and a team-high eight boards, with one block.
Sofia Ceppellotti led North Alabama with 15 points, seven boards, two steals and one assist and Alexsandra Alvardo tossed in 12 points, one rebound and one assist.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Alabama A&M went nearly eight minutes without a bucket from the floor as North Alabama jumped out to a 17-6 lead and took a 20-10 advantage into the second quarter.
The Bulldogs opened the second period on a 7-0 run, capped by a Rakiyah Beal jumper to close the gap to 20-17 with 6:41 remaining. North Alabama snapped a nearly five-minute scoring drought as Alyssa Clutter’s 3-pointer gave the Lions a 23-17 advantage with 5:20 left.
After free throws by Bukky Akinsola, Alabama A&M used a small 5-0 run, capped by a free throw by Jaida Belton to cut the margin to 30-27 with 45 seconds remaining and North Alabama took a slim, 31-27 advantage into the break.
The Lions (5-5) led 44-38 after a bucket by Akinsola with 5:54 remaining in the third, but that would be the last field goal for UNA as Alabama A&M used a 14-2 run to close out the quarter and take a 52-46 lead into the fourth.
The Bulldogs stretched the lead to 57-46 after a triple by Kalia Walker with just over eight minutes to play.
North Alabama cut the margin to 59-54 after a bucket by India Howard and a trey by Alexsandra Alvardo with 4:55 remaining, but a triple by Walker and layup by Belton pushed the lead back to double digits at 64-54 with 3:42 left.
The Lions could not recover from the big deficit in the final three minutes as Alabama A&M picked up the home victory.
GAME NOTES
- Alabama A&M shot 40.6 percent (26-of-64) from the floor and 71.4 percent (15-of-21) from the free-throw line
- The Bulldogs grabbed 35 rebounds, with 17 coming on the offensive end
- Kalia Walker scored all 15 of her points in the second half and added four assists, two rebounds and one steal
- Aniya Palmer registered 10 points, six boards, three steals and two assists
- Moses Davenport chipped in 10 points, five boards, two assists, two steals and a pair of blocks
- Jaida Belton poured in 10 points and a team-high eight boards, with one block
- Alabama A&M finished with 26 points off 33 UNA turnovers, 26 points in the paint, 22 bench points, 15 second-chance points and seven fastbreak points
- North Alabama went 20-of-47 shooting (42.6 percent) and 8-of-11 (72.7 percent) from the charity stripe
- The Lions grabbed with 35, with 24 coming on the defensive glass
- Sofia Ceppellotti registered 15 points, seven boards, two steals and one assist
- Alexsandra Alvardo tossed in 12 points, one rebound and one assist
- North Alabama finished with 20 points in the paint, 17 points off 18 AAMU turnovers, 16 bench points, three fastbreak points and two second-chance points
UP NEXT
Alabama A&M concludes its non-conference slate on Saturday in the 4 Tha Culture Holiday Classic against Richmond. Tip-off against the Spiders is scheduled for 12 p.m. (CT) from the Henrico Sports & Events Center and streamed on ESPN+.
