Box Score

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Norfolk State women's basketball team used a 12-3 run to cut an 11-point second-half deficit to two points, but the Lady Rattlers of Florida A&M held on as they handed NSU a 77-65 loss on Monday night at Gaither Gymnasium.

NSU (4-16, 1-9 MEAC) has now lost two straight conference games and 13 consecutive regular-season games to FAMU (11-11, 2-8) dating back to the 1999-00 season.

The rally began at the 16:55 mark in the second half when Danelle Tate (Stafford, Va.) hit a jumper to bring NSU within 11, 45-34. The Spartans scored six unanswered points over the next 2:29 and capped the 12-3 run with the first of two free throws by Tate with 11:05 left in the game to bring the score to 48-46.

But with NSU's leading scorer and reigning MEAC Rookie of the Week Raychele Payne (Newport News, Va.) in foul trouble, the Spartans were outscored 29-19 in the final 10:32 of the game.

The Spartans hung around the entire first half and were only down 10, 38-28, at halftime. But six of the seven Spartan players had three or more fouls late in the game, which limited their ability to play the aggressive defense that has proven successful for them in past games.

For FAMU, Stephanie Foster had 13 points and seven rebounds. Taniyah Dawson and Joslyne Jackson each had 12 points, while Thyeis Halley had 11 and Kristin Stallings had 10.

Payne led the Spartan effort with a game-high 24 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Ebony Gibbs (Petersburg, Va.) just missed a double-double with 14 points and nine rebounds. Tate had 10 points and four boards.

The Spartans return to Echols Hall for their final two home games of the season beginning with a 4 p.m. matchup with Delaware State on Saturday.