Rattlerettes declaw Lady Bears, 83-41

Florida A&M rolled over the visiting Lady Bears of Morgan State University 83-41 in Saturday’s Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference action. Improving their record to 8-8 overall, 4-3 in the MEAC. The ladies pushed themselves above .500 for the first time all season. The Rattlerettes were coming off a win over Norfolk last Monday. After a week of practice, the team was geared up for this opponent.”We knew Morgan State played a lot of zone, so we knew we had to take the outside shots,” said Head Coach Debra Clark.The Rattlerettes definitely used their scouting report to their advantage. Sophomore Deirdre Tyus and junior Yolanda Dixon lit up the scoreboard scoring 29 of the team’s points from outside the paint.The game didn’t begin well for the Rattlerettes. None of their shots were falling and they missed easy lay-ups. Morgan State wasn’t able to capitalize on the errors though. They shot just 36 percent from the free throw line and 33 percent from the field.”When you play a good team, every chance they give you to score you have to take,” MSU Coach Angelyne Brown said. “In the beginning we had the chance to at least make it a game, but we couldn’t overcome the turnovers and missed lay-ups.”The highlight of the game came at the end of the first half. With two seconds left, senior center Kim Watson took the ball at the top of the arc and banked an amazing three pointer to put her team ahead 39-23.”They were double teaming Yolanda, so I asked for it and took it,” Watson said.After half time the Rattlerettes came out and shut down the Lady Bears. “We picked up the level of energy after the half,” Tyus said. Aggressive play from both the starters and bench players led to the victory. The bench scored 19 points for the team. Freshman Charetta Oliver led the players coming off the bench with five points.”They [nonstarters] responded well,” Clark said. “They haven’t played a lot but I feel comfortable putting the nonstarters in.”With this win, the ladies are in great position to vie for the conference title. “We’re not overconfident,” Clark said. “Win or lose you have to get ready for the next game.”Their next game will be tonight in Gaither Gymnasium at 7 p.m. against MEAC foe Coppin State.