HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Playing with just seven available players – five of whom have now seen action for more than 35 minutes in consecutive games, Bethune-Cookman Women's Basketball suffered a second consecutive tough Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) road defeat Monday evening, falling in overtime at Alabama A&M, 76-72 inside the AAMU Event Center.
 
For the second consecutive game, Bethune-Cookman (13-9, 4-5 SWAC) fought until the last possession, despite playing with an extremely limited roster – one that includes all five starters playing 38 minutes or more on the night.
 
The Wildcats trailed 52-43 entering the fourth quarter.
 
Falling behind 54-43 moments into the period, Kayla White helped BCU kickstart a 7-0 run – all of the points coming courtesy the Cleveland native. After Kerrighan Dunn drained a three-pointer from the top of the key, the Cats were within 56-53 with 7:19 remaining in regulation.
 
Alabama A&M (10-11, 5-4 SWAC) would keep the lead between a three- and five-point margin on the strength of Alisha Wilson and Asianae Nicholson until another White pull-up jumper knotted the game at 62-all with 3:22 left. Karianna Woods would tie the game at 65-65 when she hit on a three-pointer – one of six on the night for the Maroon and Gold.
 
After trailing by as many as 16 at one point in the third quarter, BCU took its first lead since the second quarter after White netted a floating jumper just outside the paint. Darian Burgin would send the game into overtime with her putback layup with 35 seconds left in regulation.
 
Bethune-Cookman had a chance to win it in regulation, but a D'Shantae Edwards jumper rimmed out and the game went to overtime tied at 67.
 
The homestanding Bulldogs connected on 3 of 9 shots from the field in the overtime period and converted 3-for-4 from the free throw line to secure the win. With BCU playing just five players for most of the game – and without a substitution for much of the third and fourth quarters extending into overtime, Herad Coach Janell Crayton was forced to rely on her starters to push past exhaustion.
 
The Cats eventually were limited to two baskets in overtime, missing all three (3) three-point attempts in the process. When Edwards picked up her fifth foul with 16 seconds remaining, Wilson hit one of her two free throw attempts, putting the Bulldogs lead at 74-72. BCU had a chance to tie or take the lead, but a White jumper missed off the side of the rim.
 
Alabama A&M held a 36-26 lead at the half.
 
The Bulldogs limited BCU to just 29.2 percent shooting from the field in the opening half, while connecting on 38.9 percent shooting themselves.
 
On the night, Alabama A&M dominated points in the paint as BCU was without the services of Kayla Clark, using a 54-28 advantage in the post. The host Bulldogs also outrebounded the Cats by a 54-36 margin for the game.
 
Alabama A&M was charged in scoring by four players in double-digits, including a 17-point night from Amiah Simmons, adding six rebounds and four assists. Kaylah Turner and Wilson each netted 15 points, with the latter pulling in a game-high 18 rebounds as well. Burgin finished with 12 points of her own.
 
BCU was led by a career-high 26 points from Karianna Woods, with the Ann Arbor, Michigan native shooting 9 of 18 from the floor with a 7-for-10 effort from the charity stripe. White finished the night with 16 points, five rebounds and three assists. Dunn had 13 points to round out players in double-figures for the Wildcats.
 
Bethune-Cookman returns home for a pair of SWAC games beginning with Prairie View A&M on Saturday, Feb 10, inside Richard V. Moore Gymnasium at 2 p.m.
 
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