Late Rally Not Enough as NSU Falls at UAB 55-53

Norfolk State rallied from a 19-point second-half deficit but it was not enough to outdo the University of Alabama Birmingham as the Blazers posted a 55-53 win over the Spartans in the 2009 UAB Thanksgiving Classic on Friday night at Bartow Arena.

UAB improved to 2-3 on the season with the win, while NSU fell to 1-3.

Things were close for most of the first half, but the Blazers took a 10-point lead, 32-22, into halftime.

UAB started the second half on a 9-0 run which was capped by a layup by Miteka Truehart with 13:52 left in the game. Raychele Payne ended NSU's scoring drought with a layup at the 13:33 mark to bring the score to 41-24. The Spartans then went on a 17-2 run to get within two, 43-41, with 7:21 left.

A pair of free throws by Whitney Long with 4:31 left gave NSU its largest lead of the game, 46-43, but UAB was able to hang on for the win. A pair of free throws by Jala Harris with 15 seconds left broke a 53-all tie and Danielle Tate missed a jumper on the other end at the buzzer.


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Lady Wildcats fall to East Carolina 95-57

Bethune-Cookman  opened play Friday, at the Lady Pirate Invitational, taking on the Lady Pirates of tournament host East Carolina. After keeping it close in the early minutes of the game, ECU began to build a lead, which led them to a significant victory of 95-57.

B-CU went shot for shot with ECU in the beginning of the game, creating three score ties in the early going. Five minutes into the game, ECU broke the deadlock, and began to separate themselves just before the midpoint of the half. ECU finished the half on a 25-10 run that took the teams into the locker room with B-CU down 51-26.

As the half opened, B-CU traded shots with ECU, but couldn't seem to gain any ground. Just after the midpoint of the half, ECU shut down the Lady Wildcat offensive and kept on their scoring path, pushing their lead out to 38 points by the final buzzer. The Lady Pirates went on to win 95-57.

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MISSOURI SLIPS BY FAMU IN SEMINOLE CLASSIC

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Nov. 27) - The Florida A&M University Women's Basketball team (3-1) dropped a 69-65 decision to the University of Missouri in the first game of the Seminole Classic, Friday night at the Tucker Center.

FAMU's Deidra Jones led all scorers with a career high 33 points, with 15 of her points coming from the free throw line, as she went 15-of-17 on the evening. 

Antonia Bennett was the only other Lady Rattler to score in double figures, finishing with 13.  Jones also led the Lady Rattlers on the boards with nine.

Jones gave the Lady Rattlers  an early 4-0 lead as she connected on a pair of free throws with 17:53 to go in the first.

Jessra Johnson's free throw at the 15:57 mark would tie the game at 6-6 for Mizzou. 

Bennett would tie the game at 11-11 for FAMU, as she made a three pointer with 12:30 left to go in the half.  She would then give the Lady Rattlers a 14-13 lead, as nailed another three-pointer at the 12:00 mark.

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