In their first game of the New Year, Florida A&M dropped a 71-51 decision to the University Florida, Wednesday evening at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center.

Q’Vaunda Curry would score nine of the Lady Rattlers 11 points, capping a 6-2 run on a Taniyah Dawson layup with 13:39 left in the first half.

The Gators would rattle off the next 13 points, taking a 20-13 lead on a Jennifer Mosser layup, capping a 13-2 run with 8:34 remaining in the half.

FAMU would go on a 9-2 run to cut UF’s lead to 23-21 on a Joslyne Jackson three- pointer with 4:48 left.

The Lady Rattlers would trail the Gators, 29-25 at the break. FAMU shot 30.3 percent from the field, while UF shot 32.5 percent in the opening stanza.

UF would open the second half with an 11-0 run in the first two-and-one-half minutes, capped by a Bowden three pointer with 17:35 left in the game, giving the Gators a 40-25 lead.

Evette Young would cut the Gators’ lead to 50-40 on a three-pointer with 9:49 left in the game, but UF would then increase their lead to 59-42, on a Bowden three-pointer with 6:00 minutes left in the game, capping a 9-2 run.

The Gators would then close out the Lady Rattlers with a 12-9 run for the 71-51 final.

FAMU (9-2) was led by Stephanie Foster, who scored 12 of her 16 points in the second half. Both Jackson and Curry finished with nine points each, while Denise Tate led the Lady Rattlers on the boards with seven.

UF (10-4) was paced by Bowden, who scored a game high 24 points, followed by Sharielle Smith with 14. Aneika Henry led the Gators in rebounding with 15.

The Lady Rattlers finished the game shooting 32.8 percent, while the Gators shot 39.5 percent. UF crushed FAMU on the boards, outrebounding them 55-34.

FAMU will return to Gaither on Friday, January 4 to take on Savannah State at 7 p.m.

? Copyright 2007 meacsports.com