NORFOLK, Va.  -- Kendra Cooper knew Emily Williams was going to play a big role in Friday's 59-42 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament semifinal victory over Florida A&M.

Williams kick-started the Lady Wildcats offense with her first outing scoring double figures since consecutive games against Stetson and Jacksonville waaay back in November.

Of her 11 points, seven came in a 2:10 minute spurt that closed the first quarter  and allowed Bethune-Cookman to overcome a slow start. A 10-2 deficit quickly became a 15-14 lead.

"Emily is a spark for us," Cooper said. " I told her we were going to need her today and she needed to be aggressive."

With the offense righted, Williams' scoring faded into the background and her point guard play took over. The aggressiveness remained as the 5-9 Williams posted seven rebounds -- only two less than 6-4 Kailyn Williams -- as Bethune-Cookman outrebounded Florida A&M 48-39.

"Coach [Vanessa Blair Lewis]  gave me the confidence and fire that I needed," Emily Williams said. "When we  were down, I remember what she told me and went out and did it."

Like all the returners, Emily Williams has been motivated all year by not allowing a repeat of last year's conference tournament where the Lady Wildcats exited after their first game.

"We knew we didn't want to have the same results as last year," the junior said. " We knew we had to come in with more fire, more passion and not give up."