The FAMU women’s basketball team defeated the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore Saturday(4-11, 2-7 MEAC) 63-60. The Lady Rattlers have won six of their last seven games improved to 11-7 and 7-2 in the MEAC.
“I was real pleased with the team’s productivity and team effort,” head coach Debra Clark said. “We’ve been talking about the team coming together all season and tonight it was working for us.”
UMES dominated the majority of the first half, forcing the home team to constantly play catch-up. Their lead came largely in part to 10 points from 12 first-half turnovers. A three- pointer by Tanise Thomas tied the game at 24 with 9:26 remaining in the half. Four seconds before the buzzer, Forward Elana Greene grabbed a rebound and put it up for two points 41-31. Greene had her best offensive effort of the season scoring 24 points to lead all scorers.
“I just knew I had to play hard and be a little more confident on the court,” she said.
The absence of last season’s MEAC Player of the Year Kim Watson did not faze the remaining players. After the break, the team built a 16-point lead, 55-39, with 13:35 left on the clock, thanks in part to Yolanda Dixon’s three straight three-pointers.
“We knew we had to keep up the momentum in the half to keep it in our control,” Dixon said.
“Their best player was on the bench, so we had to use that to our advantage.”
The Lady Hawks narrowed the lead with a 10-0 run to bring the score to 59-57 at 2:13. Three free throws from Greene and Tené Miller gave FAMU a three-point cushion.
One final shot from behind the arc put the Lady Hawks back within two points, 62-60. However, they were unable to get any closer as the Lady Rattlers put away the game 63-60 with a charity shot from Clouttia Young.
The team is off until Saturday when they host Coppin State.
Contact Dominique Drake at ddidis1@aol.com.