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FAMU basketball sweeps Mississippi Valley State in SWAC doubleheader

famu athletics
·4 min read

FAMU beats Mississippi Valley State after fourth-quarter comeback

ITTA BENA, MS ― The Florida A&M women's basketball team rallied from a 42-40 deficit after the third quarter to take down the Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils 62-55 on the road Monday.

The Rattlers (3-13, 2-3) had two players score in double figures, led by Ahriahna Grizzle, who had 23 points, seven rebounds, two steals and two blocks. Olivia Delancy tacked on 14 points and two steals and Hailee Brennen added nine points, three steals and two blocks.

FAMU out-rebounded MVSU 41-33 in Monday's game, paced by nine boards from Ivet Subirats. The Rattlers also collected 18 offensive rebounds and scored 15 second chance points.

The FAMU defense was a problem in Monday's game, forcing 23 MVSU turnovers while committing 16. Those takeaways turned into 21 points on the other end of the floor. Brennen's three steals led the way individually for the Rattlers.

How It Happened

Florida A&M University women basketball's Ivet Subirats handles the ball against Southern at F.G Clark Activity Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Sat. Jan. 7, 2023
Florida A&M University women basketball's Ivet Subirats handles the ball against Southern at F.G Clark Activity Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Sat. Jan. 7, 2023

After jumping out to a 4-3 advantage, FAMU went on a 5-0 run with 8:12 left in the first quarter, culminating in a three from Brennen, to increase its lead to 9-3. The Rattlers then lost some of that lead, but still entered the quarter break with a 14-9 advantage. FAMU relied on its three-point shooting in the period, knocking down two shots to account for six of its 14 points.

The Rattlers surrendered their lead in the second quarter and entered halftime with the score tied 24-24. FAMU dominated in the paint, scoring 10 of its 10 points close to the basket.

After intermission, MVSU snatched a 31-26 lead before FAMU answered back by going on a 5-0 run, punctuated by a basket from Grizzle, to tie things up at 31 with 6:28 to go in the third. The Rattlers could not advance their rally further as the Delta Devils took a 42-40 lead into the fourth quarter. FAMU played well near the basket, scoring eight of its 16 points in the paint.

FAMU kept the Delta Devils from increasing their lead before going on a 10-0 run, finished off by Subirats' layup, to seize a 52-44 lead with 4:33 to go in the contest. The Delta Devils narrowed the margin somewhat before the game was over, but the Rattlers still cruised the rest of the way for the 62-55 win. FAMU pulled down four offensive rebounds to score six second chance points out of 22 total in the period.

FAMU wins rebound battle in victory over Mississippi Valley State

The FAMU men's basketball team out-rebounded the MVSU Delta Devils 46-33 on the way to an 81-70 win on the road Monday.

The Rattlers (3-13, 1-4) had four players score in double figures, led by Jalen Speer, who had 19 points and seven rebounds. Shannon Grant tacked on 17 points, six rebounds and two blocks and Keith Lamar helped out with 12 points and four assists.

FAMU grabbed 46 rebounds in Monday's game compared to MVSU's 33, led by eight boards from Roderick Coffee III. The Rattlers also put in work on the offensive glass, turning 14 rebounds into 13 second chance points.

FAMU did a great job disrupting MVSU shots in the contest, coming away with five blocks. Grant's two rejections led the way individually for the Rattlers.

How It Happened

Iowa State Cyclones forward Robert Jones (12) drives to the basket around Florida A&M Rattlers forward Shannon Grant (13) during the first half of a NCAA college basketball at Hilton Coliseum on Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023, in Ames, Iowa.
Iowa State Cyclones forward Robert Jones (12) drives to the basket around Florida A&M Rattlers forward Shannon Grant (13) during the first half of a NCAA college basketball at Hilton Coliseum on Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023, in Ames, Iowa.

After playing to a 32-32 tie, FAMU went on a 5-0 run with 3:31 left in the first half, culminating in a bucket from Ja'Derryus Eatmon, to take a 37-32 lead. The Rattlers then lost some of that lead, but still entered halftime with a 39-35 advantage. FAMU took advantage of eight offensive rebounds to score seven second chance points out of 39 total in the period

Following intermission, FAMU kept widening that lead, expanding it to 58-52 before going on a 6-0 run, finished off by Coffee III's layup, to grow the lead to 64-52 with 12:24 to go in the contest. The Delta Devils narrowed the margin somewhat before the game was over, but the Rattlers still cruised the rest of the way for the 81-70 win. FAMU took care of business in the paint, recording 22 of its 42 points in the lane.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU Basketball: Rattlers beat MVSU Delta Devils in SWAC doubleheader