TALLAHASSEE, Fla. | Alexus Holt scored a team-high 23 points, but it wasn't enough to propel the Grambling State University women's basketball to victory, as the the Lady Tigers fell 84-78 to Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) opponent Florida A&M on Monday evening at the Al Lawson Multipurpose Center. 

Holt went 9-of-18 from the field while racking up six rebounds, six assists and three steals. 

GSU put on its strongest offensive effort of the season, registering a season-high 78 points. However, it was on the defensive end where the Lady Tigers came up short. FAMU connected on 54.5 percent of its field goal attempts, including going 7-of-10 in the fourth quarter. 

Including Holt, Grambling State had four players score in double-figures. Justice Coleman put up 15 points to go along with four rebounds, one block and one steal. Ariel Williams and Trasity Totten scored 11 points apiece. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Cierra Ellington got the Lady Tigers on the board first with a quick mid-range jumper following a steal by Jurnee McLaurin at the 8:38 mark of the first quarter.
• FAMU responded with a three-pointer from Dylan Horton, taking a 3-2 advantage. 
• After the Rattlers stretched their lead to 18-11, Ariel Williams splashed a three-pointer with Holt following that with a steal and fast-break bucket, trimming FAMU's lead to 18-16 with 2:17 to go in the period. The Rattlers carried a 21-16 lead into the second quarter, however.
• GSU opened the second frame on fire. The Lady Tigers began the period on 12-4 run capped by a Holt layup to build a 28-25 advantage with 6:18 until the half.
• Both teams traded buckets for the remainder of the half, but FAMU took a 41-38 lead into the break. 
• Grambling State kept pace with the hot shooting Rattlers in the third, pulling within one point, twice. With GSU trailing 44-40 at the 8:01 mark, Totten drained a shot from behind the arc, cutting the FAMU advantage to 44-43. Totten then sunk a pair of free throws with 5:28 remaining in the third quarter, making the score 51-50.
• Florida A&M carried a 59-54 lead into the fourth period.
• Despite their best effort, the Lady Tigers couldn't close the gap in the closing frame, falling 84-78.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Grambling State shot 25-of-57 from the field (43.9 percent)
• Florida A&M went 30-of-55 on field goal attempts (54.5 percent)
• GSU connected on 6-of-19 shots from three-point range (31.6 percent)
• FAMU drained 7-of-13 from behind the arc (53.8 percent)
• Grambling State hit on 75.9 percent of their free throws (22-of-29)
• The Rattlers sank 17-of-27 attempts from the free-throw line (63.0 percent)
• GSU was outrebounded 32-25
• Grambling State scored 24 points off of 19 turnovers
• Florida A&M tallied 18 points on nine turnovers
• GSU outscored FAMU 15-10 in fast-break points
• Grambling State held a 26-5 advantage in bench points
• The Rattlers posted 16 second-chance points. Grambling State scored nine second-chance points.
• The Florida A&M held a 38-26 advantage on points in the paint
• Dylan Horton led the FAMU scoring effort with a game-high 32 points. 

UP NEXT

Grambling State returns to the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center to square off versus in-state rival, Southern University on Saturday. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. 

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