COLLEGE PARK, Ga. (Interstat) — Florida A&M edged Bethune-Cookman 55-52 in a Southwestern Athletic Conference women’s basketball tournament game Tuesday at Gateway Center Arena. The Lady Rattlers secured the win with key plays down the stretch after the game was tied entering the fourth quarter. Sanai Tyler led Bethune-Cookman with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Mya Johnson added 14 rebounds for the Wildcats. Florida A&M’s Tahnyjia Purifoy directed the offense with nine points and six assists, while Breazia Robinson anchored the defense with eight blocks. The loss concludes Bethune-Cookman’s season at 7-26. Florida A&M, now 9-21, advanced in the tournament. Attendance was 729.

Preview: Bethune-Cookman Wildcats at Florida A&M Lady Rattlers COLLEGE PARK, Ga. (Interstat) — The Florida A&M Lady Rattlers will look to complete a regular-season sweep when they host the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats in a Southwestern Athletic Conference women’s basketball game Tuesday at Gateway Center Arena. The matchup features two teams seeking momentum heading into the conference tournament. Florida A&M (8-21) earned a 66-60 home victory over Bethune-Cookman just five days ago on March 5. The Lady Rattlers’ guard, Tahnyjia Purifoy, was instrumental in that win, finishing with 9 points and 9 assists in 38 minutes. Purifoy has been a consistent facilitator, averaging 7.6 assists over her last five games. Bethune-Cookman (7-25) enters following a 66-62 road win at Texas Southern on Monday, snapping a seven-game skid. The Wildcats will aim to carry that momentum into the quick rematch. They are led by Mya Johnson, who scored 12 points in the loss to Florida A&M last week. Johnson’s production has varied, but she logged 31 minutes with 7 points and 3 blocks in a close overtime loss at Grambling on Feb. 26. The season series is split, with Bethune-Cookman winning 57-56 at home on Jan. 3 before last week’s defeat. Both teams have struggled through difficult seasons but have shown the ability to compete within the conference. Florida A&M’s offense will again run through Purifoy, while Miya Giles-Jones (12 points vs. Bethune-Cookman on March 5) and Camille Jackson (10 points) provide scoring support. The Lady Rattlers have won two of their last three home games. For Bethune-Cookman, finding consistent scoring beyond Johnson will be critical. The Wildcats’ victory over Texas Southern demonstrated their potential when shots fall and defense tightens in late-game situations. Tip-off is set for Tuesday, March 10, at the neutral-site Gateway Center Arena in College Park. The game will not be played on either campus due to a pre-arranged SWAC scheduling agreement.