The Florida A&M University Women's Basketball team (3-15, 1-4 MEAC) took on the Bethune Cookman lady Wildcats and fell under 64-41 in a doubleheader, Monday at the Al Lawson Center.
In the first half, the lady Rattlers made an effort to keep up with their opponent by scoring consistently throughout the quarter of the entire game. The lady Rattlers and Wildcats ended the first quarter tied 13-13.
From there on, the Rattlers struggled and left the second quarter scoring only one point at the free throw line. The lady rattlers went 5-13 at the free throw line where as the Wildcats went 24-42 at the line.
Florida A&M's head coach LeDawn Gibson said playing as a team was the key in dominating the opponent. “These girls are not patient on offense, they force a lot and I don't think they have come to the realization that if you play together as a team you get more accomplished.”
In the third quarter, Junior Dawn King picked up her team, attempting to bring them back in the lead. Leading in boards for the Rattlers, King had 12 points, four three-pointers and played 26 minutes, but it was not enough to bring them on top.
“I was just getting open and making my shots and towards the fourth quarter they started playing me for the shot because we couldn't find other ways to score,” said King. “Playing as a team because when we do play as a team we score the ball, we share the ball but when we don't we don't score, we’ll be selfish.”
The lady Rattlers struggled not only in scoring, but they also experienced difficulties keeping the ball within their possession, allowing nine assists on the court and 16 turnovers, costing them the game.
As for the BC-U lady Wildcats, head coach Vanessa Blaire-Lewis shared her thoughts about the game. “We were up for this game just as they were. We came out and had a really good first half, but I think it's when the second quarter hit is when we started to create a little distance between us.”
The Rattlers now will be placed in the bottom half of the conference play leaving them at an overall MEAC record of 1-6. Next, the Rattlers will take on Maryland-Eastern Shore, January 23, at 6 p.m. in the Alfred Lawson Jr. Multipurpose gym.
