AVALON, Miss. (Interstat) — The Florida A&M women’s basketball team used a dominant third quarter to secure an 88-74 victory over Mississippi Valley State on Thursday night at LeFlore County Civic Center. The Lady Rattlers, who led 34-31 at halftime, broke the game open by outscoring the Devilettes 29-13 in the third period. Tahnyjia Purifoy led Florida A&M with 22 points and eight assists, while Shaniyah McCarthy added 23 points. Kylah McCullers scored 17 points for Mississippi Valley State. Florida A&M improved to 4-11 overall. Mississippi Valley State fell to 3-13.

AVALON, Miss. (Interstat) — A dominant second-half performance, fueled by a career-high 22 points from Shaniyah McCarthy and a commanding all-around effort from Tahnyjia Purifoy, propelled the Florida A&M Lady Rattlers to an 88-74 victory over the Mississippi Valley State Devilettes in a Southwestern Athletic Conference women’s basketball game Thursday night at the LeFlore County Civic Center. The game’s pivotal shift occurred immediately after halftime. Florida A&M, which held a narrow 34-39 lead at the break despite a strong second quarter from the hosts, exploded for 29 points in the third quarter. The Lady Rattlers seized control with a 15-2 run over a four-minute span, turning a two-point game into a commanding 15-point advantage. The surge was characterized by stifling defense that forced eight Mississippi Valley State turnovers in the quarter and efficient offense that saw Florida A&M shoot 50 percent from the field during the period. Purifoy, the team’s leading catalyst, was instrumental in the game-breaking run. The 5-foot guard from Pensacola, Florida, scored seven points and dished out three assists during the quarter, consistently breaking down the Devilettes’ defense. She finished with a stat line of 22 points and eight assists in 33 minutes, continuing her streak of strong performances that have included averages of 17 points and four assists over her last three games. While Purifoy orchestrated, McCarthy provided the scoring punch. The 5-foot-8 guard from Apopka, Florida, scored 11 of her game-high 23 points in the third quarter, including a critical three-pointer that capped the decisive run. She played a team-high 37 minutes, adding three assists and three steals. The duo received ample support from Camille Jackson and Miya Giles-Jones, who each contributed 13 points. Jackson, a 5-foot-11 forward from Chicago, also had three assists and a block, while Giles-Jones, a 6-foot forward from Fayetteville, North Carolina, added two assists and a block. Mississippi Valley State, which entered the game with a 52.6 percent probability to win according to National Statistical’s ELO system, showed resilience in the first half. After trailing 19-17 after one quarter, the Devilettes outscored Florida A&M 22-15 in the second to take their five-point lead into the locker room. Kylah McCullers led the charge, scoring 10 of her team-high 17 points before halftime. The 5-foot-7 guard from Madison, Wisconsin, finished with four assists. The Devilettes’ interior presence was felt through Nairobi Lewis, who posted a double-double with 10 points and two blocks in just 14 minutes, and Sydnei Marshall, who added 12 points. Janiya Jones also scored 12 points for Mississippi Valley State. However, their efforts were undone by 20 total turnovers, which Florida A&M converted into 22 points, and a significant disparity at the free-throw line. The Lady Rattlers made 28 of 34 attempts from the charity stripe, while the Devilettes connected on just 27 of 42. Florida A&M’s offensive efficiency proved decisive. The Lady Rattlers scored 88 points on 79 possessions, an offensive rating of 111.2, while Mississippi Valley State managed only 74 points on 82 possessions, a rating of 90.3. Despite shooting a lower percentage from the field, Florida A&M’s ability to generate extra possessions through offensive rebounds, where they held a 14-11 edge, and force turnovers was the difference. The victory improves Florida A&M’s record to 4-11 overall and marks their third win in their last four games, providing momentum as they continue SWAC play. The loss drops Mississippi Valley State to 3-13 on the season. The Devilettes will look to rebound quickly as they host Bethune-Cookman on Saturday. Florida A&M’s next contest is at home against Jackson State on Jan. 22. A crowd of 235 at the LeFlore County Civic Center saw a game that was competitive for a half before Florida A&M’s superior depth, guard play, and second-half execution created a separation that the Devilettes could not overcome. The Lady Rattlers’ third-quarter explosion, turning defense into easy offense, was the definitive chapter in a contest that solidified their recent upward trajectory.

Preview: Florida A&M Looks to Build Momentum at Mississippi Valley State AVALON, Miss. (Interstat) — Two teams seeking consistency will meet Thursday when the Florida A&M Lady Rattlers visit the Mississippi Valley State Devilettes in a Southwestern Athletic Conference women’s basketball matchup. The game at LeFlore County Civic Center features teams with identical 3-11 overall records, though Florida A&M (2-1 SWAC) enters with a slight edge in recent conference play. The Lady Rattlers are coming off a 60-57 home victory over Southern on Saturday, their second straight win. Mississippi Valley State (1-2 SWAC) also won its most recent outing, an 80-73 road victory at Prairie View on Saturday. That win snapped a two-game skid for the Devilettes. Florida A&M will lean on guard Tahnyjia Purifoy, who has been a catalyst during the team’s two-game win streak. She scored 21 points in 38 minutes against Southern and added 14 points and five assists in a win over Grambling on Jan. 8. Over her last five games, Purifoy is averaging 16.4 points. Mississippi Valley State counters with guard Kylah McCullers, who led the team with 16 points, five rebounds and two assists in the win over Prairie View. Her production has been variable, however, as she was held to two points in a loss to Texas Southern two days prior. Both teams have struggled defensively at times this season. Florida A&M has allowed 70 or more points in seven of its 11 losses. Mississippi Valley State has faced several high-powered non-conference opponents, suffering defeats of 102-34 at Mississippi and 133-46 at Oklahoma State. The Lady Rattlers’ current two-game win streak matches their longest of the season. The Devilettes will aim to secure consecutive wins for the first time this year. Following this contest, Mississippi Valley State hosts Bethune-Cookman on Saturday. Florida A&M’s next game is at home against Jackson State on Jan. 22.