Florence, Ala. | Alisha Wilson earned her 1000th career rebound and Kalia Walker notched a career-high 30 points as the Alabama A&M women's basketball team topped in-state foe North Alabama, 80-77, on Tuesday evening. The victory also marked the first time the Bulldogs defeated the Lions in Florence, and AAMU remains undefeated on the road.
The contest saw three Bulldogs in double figures. In addition to Walker's 30 points, senior guard Darian Burgin tallied a season-high 15 points and added four rebounds and two steals. Defensively, Jaiyah Harris-Smith paced the Bulldogs, picking up nine rebounds. Mailyn Wilkerson was the third Bulldog in double figures, as she added 11 points during the contest.
The Lions saw four players in double figures, led by Charity Gallegos' 13 points and nine assists. Emma Kate Tittle picked up 13 points of her own, while Sarang West and Alyssa Clutter added 10 points apiece. On the defensive side, UNA saw four Lions with five rebounds.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Lions were the first to score, courtesy of a jumper from India Howard
Kalia Walker got the Bulldogs on the board after a three-point play
The host team took a quick 12-8 lead but a shot from deep from Wilkerson put the Bulldogs within one point
UNA scored four unanswered to end the first frame, ahead 18-13
Harris-Smith opened the second stanza with a turnaround jumper, but the lions went on an 10-4 run to take a comfortable 28-19 lead into the media timeout
AAMU scored the first seven points out of the stoppage, pioneered by a Walker shot from behind the arc to bring the contest within a bucket, at 28-26
UNA went ahead by as many as six, but Burgin forced a turnover and scored on the opposite end to once again bring the Bulldogs within two
Walker drew a foul and sunk the free throw to take the lead with just over three minutes remaining in the half (33-32)
Four straight jumpers from Allen gave Alabama the lead at 37-35
The host team scored nine unanswered points before a pair of Walker free throws sent the contest to the half with UNA leading 44-39
The Lions saw their largest lead of the game to that point at 54-42, but a 7-0 run from the Bulldogs, complimented by a layup, drawn foul, and made free throw from Burgin put AAMU back in the game
Alabama A&M picked up intensity, going on a 12-2 run to take the lead going into the final stanza (61-59)
Harris-Smith forced a Lions turnover and sunk a jumper to open the fourth frame
Walker picked up five points in an 8-1 Bulldog run to take a 10-point lead with just under five minutes remaining in the contest (71-61)
UNA reduced the lead to three, but were never able to recover, as the Bulldogs claimed the victory, 80-77
GAME NOTES
Alabama A&M shot 41.3 percent (26-of-63) from the field and 69.7 percent (23-of-33) from the free-throw line
AAMU went 5-19 (26.3 percent) from behind the arc
The Bulldogs grabbed 42 total rebounds, 27 of them defensively
Kalia Walker scored a career-high 30 points
Darian Burgin added a season-high 15 points
Mailyn Wilkerson tallied 11 points, and Jaiyah Harris-Walker recorded a season-high nine rebounds
Alisha Wilson's five rebounds on the night earned her 1000th career rebound.
The Bulldogs finished with 36 points in the paint, 22 points from 18 Lions turnovers, and 21 bench points
AAMU picked up 11 steals compared to UNA's four
The Lions shot 45.8 percent (27-of-59) from the field, 51.5 percent from the line (17-of-33) and 25 percent (6-of-24) from behind the arc
North Alabama grabbed 41 rebounds
Charity Gallegos scored 13 points and nine assists.
Emma Kate Tittle picked up 13 points of her own,
Sarang West and Alyssa Clutter added 10 points apiece.
In addition to Sarang and Gallegos, India Howard and Jazzy Klinge grabbed five rebounds
North Alabama picked up 25 bench points and saw 36 points come from within the paint.
UP NEXT
The Bulldogs will travel to New Orleans, Louisiana to compete in the Tulane Holiday Tournament on December 20 and 21. The Bulldogs face the host team on Friday at 2:30 pm and will play either Central Arkansas or the University of Louisiana –Monroe on Saturday. Friday's match will be live streamed on ESPN+.
