Women's Basketball 11/14/2007 5:00:00 AM MEAC Media Relations

Florida A&M Top Mercer in Home Opener, 78-57

The Florida A&M Women’s Basketball team cruised to a breezy 78-57 victory over Mercerin FAMU’s home opener in Gaither Gymnasium Tuesday night.

Tuesday’s win was career victory 199 for FAMU head coach Debra Clark, who is in her seventh season in Tallahassee and in her 14th season overall as a collegiate head coach.

The Lady Rattlers aim to push Clark to the magical 200-win plateau Wednesday evening when they host Albany (Ga.) State in Gaither Gym, tipping off at 5:30 p.m.

Florida A&M (2-0) got off to the races in the first half, using a decided rebounding edge (26-18) and 41 percent shooting (16 of 39) to Mercer’s 28.6 percent (8 of 28) to forge a 37-24 lead at halftime.

In the second half, FAMU shot 50 percent from the floor to 37.5 percent for the Bears, extending their lead to as much as 27 points in the final three minutes of the game.

Senior guard Joslyne Jackson led all scorers with 20 points, while fellow senior Q’Vaunda Curry tossed in 16 points, including a trio of three-pointers. Juniors Deidra Jones and Stephanie Foster each finished with 10 points.

Jones led FAMU with 11 rebounds, followed by Jackson and Foster with eight boards apiece and Thyeis Halley with seven rebounds. Junior guard Taniyah Dawson helped key FAMU defensively with three steals, while dishing out four assists.

Mercer (2-1) was led by Sarah Russell’s 16 points Tuesday, followed by 15 points and a team-high six rebounds from Shaquita Bell, plus 12 points from Cristin Seymour.

WHAT’S NEXT: The Lady Rattlers host Albany (Ga.) State University Wednesday evening at 5:30 p.m. in Gaither Gym.