Florida A&M dropped a heartbreaking 71-69 decision to the University of Central Florida at the UCF Arena Friday night.

 

Florida A&M (2-1) led 39-31 at halftime, and by as much as 10 points, 57-47, with 11 minutes left in the game, before the homestanding Knights (1-1) rallied to take the lead with under eight minutes left.

 

UCF’s Angelica Mealing’s three-pointer with 8:07 left, sliced the FAMU lead to one, 59-58, before D’Nay Daniels’ steal and layup pushed the Knights ahead, 60-59, with 7:44 to play.

 

The Knights extended their lead to three points, 62-59, on a layup by Marshay White with 5:52 to play, before FAMU’s Deidra Jones cashed in a three-pointer with 5:33 left to tie the game 62-62.

 

Stephanie Foster’s jumper with 5:00 left gave FAMU a 64-62 lead. UCF tied the score at 64-64, then Foster hit another jumper with 3:44 left for a 66-64 FAMU edge.

 

Marcquitta Head hit a layup with 3:28 left to tie the game 66-66, then the game became a battle of foul shots.

 

A Foster foul shot put FAMU ahead for the last time, 67-66 with 2:58 left, then Head hit the first of two charity tosses for UCF, tying the game at 67-67 at the 2:39 mark.

 

Head hit a layup with 1:16 to put UCF ahead, 69-67, but Foster answered with a layup off a beautiful assist from, Deidra Jones, making the count even again at 69-69, with 43 seconds left.

 

Emma Cannon hit the first of two foul shots for UCF, putting the Knights ahead to stay, 70-69 with 22 seconds left. After a missed layup by Deidra Jones, UCF’s Marshay White hit a foul shot with nine seconds left to push the Knights’ lead to 71-69.

 

FAMU got two shots off in the final seconds, a three-point try by Jarquella Woods and a rebound and layup try by Qiana Donald, both which missed.

 

Deidra Jones led FAMU with 24 points, followed by fellow senior Stephanie Foster with 18 points. Melissa Daniels finished with a team-high eight rebounds before fouling out, while Qiana Donald grabbed seven boards, followed by Jones and Denise Tate with five caroms apiece.

 

Emma Cannon led the Knights with 18 points, followed by Marcquitta Head with 17 points and Marshay White with 15. Head led all rebounders with 12, followed by Cannon with 11 boards.

 

FAMU’s next game will be Saturday, November 29 at home against Alabama State in Gaither Gymnasium at 7 p.m.