Only 298 fans came to the Lawson Center Monday night to see if the FAMU women’s basketball team could get its first league win.
The Rattlers did not disappoint. FAMU secured its first win of the conference season against Coppin State with a final score of 58-48. This win improved the Rattlers’ record to 3-12, and 1-3 in the MEAC.
The win ended a nine-game losing streak for the team.
Shalaunda Burney-Robinson helped lead the Rattlers to victory, finishing the game with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Burney-Robinson’s performance marked her fourth double-double of the season.
“It felt great to get our first home win, we worked hard for that W,” Burney-Robinson said. “My goal is to get a double-double every game, and it felt great to have a double-double (against Coppin State).”
Head coach Kevin Lynum refers to Burney-Robinson as the “franchise player” of the program. “You can’t put into words what Shalaunda Burney-Robinson brings to this team. This kid comes in and she gives us everything she has day in and day out,” Lynum said.
Pressure defense by the Rattlers played a key role in their victory. The Rattlers had a total of 17 steals against Coppin State. Coppin State finished the game with 21 turnovers.
Freshman guard Alaina Rice led the team with five steals, and racked up 11 points along with five assists and five rebounds.
Junior guard Kailya Jackson had high intensity during the pressure defense, totaling three steals along with 12 points. “When we are in the press we are running around trying to force turnovers,” Jackson said. “We stayed in the press the entire game which gave us the opportunity to be able to force turnovers at a higher rate.”
The FAMU women’s team travels to South Carolina State, Saturday to continue conference play in Orangeburg at 2 p.m.