South Carolina State’s Marie Reid came off the bench for 23 points to power the Lady Bulldogs to a 74-63 win over Florida A&M Monday night in a MEAC contest at Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center.
The SC State women wore pink uniforms and many fans wore the color to support the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association’s “Think Pink” initiative to bring awareness to breast cancer. Twelve survivors of breast cancer from a group called “Celebration,” were honored and presented gifts following the contest and prior to the men’s game
Reid, a transfer from Memphis, has come off the bench to lead the Lady Bulldogs in scoring in four of the last five games and has averaged 24 points in three consecutive contests, two of which Coach Tonya Mackey’s team has been victorious.
Reid was supported by Jenell Moore, who pulled down 14 rebounds and was one of three players with 11 points for her sixth double-double of the season. Also with 11 points were Brittany Baity, who added a game-high eight assists, and Sophilia Hipps.
The Lady Bulldogs, who nabbed back-to-back victories for only the third time this season, improved to 8-11 overall and 5-3 in the MEAC.
The visiting Lady Rattlers were led by Q’Vaunda Curry with 20 points and eight rebounds. Stephanie Foster added 15 points and Taniyah Dawson 13 in the loss, which dropped FAMU to 10-10 overall and 1-7 in the league.
SC State got off to a quick start to build a 24-10 lead in the first 10 minutes of the contest before the Lady Rattlers rallied to close the gap to 33-28 at the half. Hipps had nine points to lead Mackey’s team at the half.
Patience Figgins nailed a 3-pointer for the Lady Bulldogs to start the second half and build a 36-28 advantage, which SC State stretched to 53-37 on Reid layup with 12:48 to play.
The FAMU women got as close as nine four times after that ? the last time at 72-63 with less than a minute left ? but could get no closer.
The Lady Bulldogs begin a four-game, two-week MEAC road swing Saturday at Coppin State.
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