Dec. 15, 2007

Final Stats

FAMU Sports Information

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The Florida A&M Women's Basketball team overcame a hot-shooting first half from visiting North Carolina Central to take a 63-54 non-conference victory in Gaither Gym here Saturday afternoon. Florida A&M (8-1) fell behind as much as 14 points in the first half, as the Lady Eagles of NCCU (1-12) shot 68.2 percent (15 of 22) from the floor and cashed in on five of six three-point tries.

NCCU led 20-6 with 12:51 in the first half, as the Lady Eagles rode the three-point shooting of Jennifer Hukill, who finished the half four for four from beyond the arc. However, FAMU wouldn't fold, despite shooting under 20 percent from the floor in the first 10 minutes, as junior guard Taniyah Dawson countered the torrid NCCU pace on defense with four steals, converting several into fast break points to get the Lady Rattlers back into contention.

FAMU finished the half with a 21-15 run, to pull within eight points of NCCU, 35-27 by halftime, but continued to reverse roles with the visitors in the second half. FAMU shot 51.9 percent from the floor (14 of 27) and 57.1 percent (4 of 7) from three-point range in the final stanza, while holding NCCU to just 30 percent shooting (6 of 20) and to one three-pointer made in two tries. The Lady Eagles got their lead back to 10 points, 39-29 on a layup by Jori Nwachukwu with 18:01 to play, but FAMU caught fire, going on a 20-18 run over the next 10 minutes.

Senior Thyeis Halley capped the run with a three-pointer from the top of the key to give FAMU its' first lead of the game, 49-47 with 8:35 left. Central stayed close getting inside shots or hitting a clutch jumper, with Nwachukwu's layup with 6:52 to go, pulling her team within one point, 51-50.

But FAMU's Stephanie Foster literally closed out Central by herself, sparking a 12-4 run with three jumpers during the final 6:32 of the game. Foster scored 13 of her 15 points in the second half, while senior Q'Vaunda Curry scored eight of her 15 points in the final frame. Dawson was the star of the afternoon for FAMU though, scoring a game-high 17 points, with five assists and five steals in 37 minutes. Junior Denise Tate pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds, eight coming on the defensive end, including six defensive boards in the second half, while Foster finished with nine boards and Curry hauled down eight rebounds.

Tonia Roundtree led NCCU with 14 points and four steals, followed by Jennifer Hukill with 12 points. Nwachukwu added nine points with Latoya Bennett chipping in seven points. LaVonna Hailey led Central in rebounds with six and assists with five.