Lady Tigers Rally FAMU

January 3 , 2008
TALLAHASSEE, Fl- Trailing by nine points early in the second half, Savannah State went on a 18-4 run to take a 53-48 lead and never trailed again in a 74-66 win over Florida A&M in Gaither Gymnasium.

SSU was ahead by six before embarking on a 5-0 run to increase their lead to 71-60 with 46 seconds left. 3-pointers by Q'Vaunda Curry and Stephanie Foster in the closing seconds got the Rattlers to within seven but no closer.

The Lady Tigers improved to 8-6 with the win and were led by Ivy Smith's 26 points, six assists, five rebounds and three steals. LaShara Smith had 14 points, five rebounds and four assists while Antoinette Williams added 11 points and four rebounds before fouling out with 3:12 left.

FAMU (9-3) received 18 points from Foster and Denise Tate grabbed 21 rebounds.

FAMU led the majority of the first half but had 10 turnovers in the second half and shot 32 percent from the floor. After hitting five 3-pointers in the first half, the Rattlers dipped go 2-for-14 in the final period.

The Rattlers held a seven point advantage with 16:10 left to play in the opening half but SSU took a one point lead with 13:14 on the clock after a 10-2 spurt.

FAMU answered the Lady Tigers run by scoring the next seven points to re-take the lead. FAMU's lead ballooned to eight with just over two minutes left but SSU's Amber West hit a 3-pointer which was followed by a layup from Milan Johnson to pull SSU to within three.

The Rattlers closed the half out-scoring SSU 6-3 and took a 36-30 lead into the locker room.