Women's Basketball MEAC Media Relations

Alabama Edges Lady Rattlers, 70-68 In OT

In a game, that saw 13 ties and 21 lead changes, Florida A&M dropped a hard fought 70-68 overtime decision to the University of Alabama, Wednesday afternoon at Coleman Coliseum.

FAMU (4-4) had a trio of players to score in double figures with Stephanie Foster leading the way with 17 points.  Deidra Jones dropped in 16 points, while Melissa Daniels finished with 10 points.

Freshman Qiana Donald led the Lady Rattlers on the boards with 11 rebounds, while Jones finished with a game high seven assists.

In the first half, FAMU tied the game on three times, while Alabama tied the game four times, before the Crimson Tide took a 27-26 lead at the half.

The Lady Rattlers finished the first half shooting 35.5 percent (11-of-31) from the floor, while the Crimson Tide shot 36.7 percent (11-of-30).

Alabama would push their lead out to five points to begin the second half on a Varisia Raffington field goal with 16:09 remaining gave the Crimson Tide a 33-28 lead.

Later, UA would push their lead to seven points on an Ericka Russell field goal with 12:12 remaining making the score, 39-32.

FAMU's Stephanie Foster broke a three-minute scoring drought for both teams as she hit a pair of free throws with 6:07 remaining, cutting Alabama lead to 41-39.

Then a Melissa Daniels lay-up would tie the game at 41-41 with 5:48 left to go, followed by a Foster three-pointer, which gave the Lady Rattlers a 44-43 lead with 5:36 remaining in regulation.

A Raffington field goal at the 3:22 mark would give the Crimson Tide a 51-46 leading capping a 7-3 run.

FAMU would then go on a 7-2 run to send the game into overtime, capping the surge on a Qiana Donald free throw with 1:13 left.

In the overtime, the Lady Rattlers would score the first two baskets to take a 61-57 lead with 4:31 to play.

A Courtney Strauthers free throw with 3:36 remaining tied the game at 64-64, followed by a Daleisha Corn field goal with three minutes left giving the Crimson Tide a 66-64 lead.

FAMU would tie the game at 66-66 on a pair of Foster free throws at the 2:37 mark of the overtime period.

The Tide would then regain the lead 68-66 at the 2:08 mark on a Magee layup. Alabama would then extend their lead to 69-66 on a Magee free throw at the 1:35 mark of the extra period.

A pair of free throws by Deidra Jones would cut Alabama's lead to 69-68 with 1:27 left, but another Magee free throw with one second left would seal a 70-68 win for the Crimson Tide.

FAMU finished the game shooting 34.7 percent (25-of-72) from the field, while UA shot  32.5 percent (26-of-80).  Both the Lady Rattlers and the Crimson Tide finished with 57 rebounds each.

Alabama (7-3) was paced by Tierney Jenkins, who finished with a double-double in 17 points and 10 reounds, while Varisia Raffington added 10 points to round out the Crimson Tide double figure players.  Dedrea Magee led the team in assists with six.

The Lady Rattlers will close out the calendar year at home against the Pittsburgh on Friday, December 19, at 7 p.m. in Gaither Gymnasium.