Alabama A&M avenged its only SWAC loss of the season in dominant fashion Saturday and made history along the way.
The Bulldogs’ 95-55 win over Mississippi Valley State was the team’s 12th straight, which set a modern-day Division I program record.
The Bulldogs (16-9 overall, 12-1 SWAC) trailed briefly early before seizing control with a 24-8 run to close the first quarter. By halftime, AAMU had built a 43-20 cushion and never looked back, cruising to a season-series split with the Devilettes (4-19, 3-9 SWAC).
Kalia Walker led four Bulldogs in double figures with 22 points, adding three rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Coriah Beck recorded a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds to go with six assists and three steals.
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Aniya Palmer nearly notched a double-double of her own with 13 points and nine boards, while Jaida Belton added 12 points and a team-high 13 rebounds.
Sydney Thompson paced Mississippi Valley with 12 points and two steals, and Ariel Jefferson chipped in 11 points.
AAMU’s defensive pressure set the tone early as the Bulldogs forced turnovers and cashed in transition opportunities during a 14-0 first-quarter run. Belton’s inside presence and Beck’s backcourt efficiency fueled A&M’s surge in the second quarter, pushing the lead past 20 points.
The Bulldogs continued to roll after halftime. Beck knocked down a three-pointer to open the third, and Rakiyah Beal’s transition basket extended the margin to 50-22. Despite a brief MVSU burst from long range, Alabama A&M’s balanced scoring and dominance on the glass carried it to a 68-45 lead entering the final period.
AAMU’s reserves closed out the rout, holding the Devilettes to just 10 points in the fourth quarter while stretching the advantage to as many as 41 points in the final minutes.
