HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (Interstat) — Alabama A&M defeated Jackson State 69-59 in a Southwestern Athletic Conference women’s basketball game Thursday night at T. M. Elmore Gymnasium. The Bulldogs used a strong second quarter, outscoring the Lady Tigers 23-19, to build a lead they would not relinquish. Jackson State’s Pierre-Noelle Tcheuhchoua scored a team-high 16 points, but Alabama A&M’s balance proved decisive. Maori Davenport and Kaila Walker each added 12 points for the Bulldogs. Alabama A&M improved to 6-9 overall. Jackson State fell to 2-12.

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (Interstat) — A decisive second-quarter surge propelled the Alabama A&M Bulldogs to a 69-59 victory over the Jackson State Lady Tigers in a Southwestern Athletic Conference women’s basketball game Thursday night at T.M. Elmore Gymnasium. A crowd of 3,682 saw the Bulldogs improve to 6-9 overall, while the Lady Tigers fell to 2-12. The game’s pivotal stretch came in the second period. After a sluggish first quarter that ended with Alabama A&M leading 13-6, the Bulldogs erupted. They outscored Jackson State 23-19 in the frame, but the damage was rooted in a 12-2 run that transformed a narrow 15-11 edge into a commanding 27-13 advantage midway through the quarter. This run, fueled by Jackson State turnovers and efficient Alabama A&M transition play, established a cushion the Lady Tigers could never fully erase. Jackson State guard Angel Wilkinson hit a 3-pointer just before halftime to cut the deficit to 36-25, but the Bulldogs’ work in the paint and at the free-throw line had already set the tone. Alabama A&M finished with a 26-24 edge in points in the paint and, more critically, attempted 33 free throws to Jackson State’s 18, making 19. The Lady Tigers showed resilience after halftime, opening the third quarter with a 7-2 spurt to close within eight points. They stayed within striking distance for much of the second half, pulling to within 55-50 on a pair of Wilkinson free throws with 6:30 remaining in the fourth quarter. However, Alabama A&M answered each time Jackson State threatened. A layup by Jaida Belton and a turnaround jumper by Maori Davenport in the final four minutes helped seal the win, keeping the Bulldogs ahead by at least two possessions down the stretch. Pierre-Noelle Tcheuhchoua led all scorers with 16 points for Jackson State, adding several key rebounds. Wilkinson contributed 11 points, all in the second half, including three 3-pointers. The Lady Tigers shot a respectable 42.6% from the field but were undermined by 18 turnovers, which Alabama A&M converted into 21 points. The Bulldogs showcased balanced scoring. Davenport, a 6-foot-5 center from Troy, Alabama, posted 12 points and two assists in just 17 minutes. Point guard Kaila Walker, who played a game-high 36 minutes, matched Davenport with 12 points and dished out five assists. Belton added 10 points and was a force defensively with multiple steals and rebounds. Alabama A&M’s offensive efficiency proved decisive. The Bulldogs scored 69 points on 70 possessions for an offensive rating of 99.0, while Jackson State managed 59 points on 67 possessions for an 88.7 rating. Alabama A&M also won the battle on the glass, securing 10 offensive rebounds to Jackson State’s seven. The victory gives Alabama A&M momentum heading into a Saturday home game against Alcorn State. Jackson State, mired in a three-game losing streak, will look to rebound quickly on the road at Alabama State on Saturday. According to National Statistical’s ELO system, Alabama A&M entered the game with a 66% probability to win, a projection borne out by their ability to control the game’s tempo and capitalize on Jackson State’s mistakes during the critical second-quarter run.

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (Interstat) — Two Southwestern Athletic Conference women’s basketball teams seeking momentum will meet Thursday when Alabama A&M hosts Jackson State at T.M. Elmore Gymnasium. The Bulldogs (5-9) enter with a boost after a decisive 72-49 road victory at Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday. Alabama A&M’s Jaida Belton dominated in that win, recording a double-double with 13 points and 17 rebounds. The forward has been a consistent interior presence, averaging 9.6 points and 7.6 rebounds over her last five games. Jackson State (2-11) looks to snap a six-game losing streak. The Lady Tigers fell 49-45 at home to Alcorn State last Saturday despite a balanced effort from Jaileyah Cotton (7 points, 5 rebounds), Mikayla Brown (6 points, 9 rebounds) and Leianya Massenat (5 points, 8 rebounds). Cotton, a key guard, has averaged 6.8 points and 3.2 assists during the skid, which includes challenging road losses to Power Five opponents Auburn, Purdue, Illinois and Alabama. While both teams have struggled in non-conference play, the matchup marks a critical early swing in the SWAC schedule. Alabama A&M has shown potency at home this season, including a 72-57 win over North Alabama last month. Jackson State’s lone road win came at Gardner-Webb in November. The Bulldogs will aim to control the paint behind Belton, while the Lady Tigers will rely on Cotton’s playmaking and a defense that held Alcorn State under 50 points. The game is set for a 5:30 p.m. CST tipoff Thursday. Alabama A&M hosts Alcorn State on Saturday, while Jackson State travels to face Alabama State.