UAH defeats Alabama A&M in women’s Mayor’s Cup contest

NORMAL — The University of Alabama in Huntsville opened the season on the right foot Monday night, earning a 73-64 win over cross-town rival Alabama A&M to capture the Mayor’s Cup women’s exhibition game.

The Chargers and Bulldogs went back and forth through a tightly contested first quarter in the Alabama A&M Event Center, with newcomer Paris Opelt and Ivey Maddox combining for 12 of UAH’s 22 points.

UAH took a 36-31 lead into halftime, then controlled the second half to secure the nine-point victory.

UAH’s Lilli Wilken led all scorers with 25 points, including a perfect 9-for-9 performance at the free-throw line. Millie Brown added 20 points, with most of her scoring coming from beyond the arc, where she went 5-for-8 from three-point range.

For the Bulldogs, Kamiyha Griffin was 6-of-6 from the floor to finish with 14 points and two assists. Sumayah McIntosh added 11 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals, while Jaida Belton posted a double-double of 13 rebounds and 11 points. Moses Davenport poured in 11 points and five boards.

The win marked UAH’s first victory over Alabama A&M since Connie Guinn’s Chargers accomplished the feat in November 1998. It was also UAH’s first road win at Alabama A&M since December 1985, when head coach Debbie McBeath led the Blue and White to a 71-63 triumph.

GAME NOTES

• Alabama A&M shot 33.8% (22-of-65) from the field and 58.1% (18-of-31) from the free-throw line
• The Bulldogs grabbed 43 rebounds, including 23 on the offensive glass
• Kamiyha Griffin was 6-of-6 from the floor to finish with 14 points and two assists
• Sumayah McIntosh added 11 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals
• Jaida Belton posted a double-double of 13 rebounds and 11 points
• Moses Davenport poured in 11 points and five boards
• Alabama A&M finished with 36 points in the paint, 25 bench points, 17 points off 24 UAH turnovers, 13 second-chance points and nine fastbreak points
• UAH went 21-of-53 shooting (39.6%) from the floor and 20-of-23 (87%) from the charity stripe
• The Chargers grabbed 40 rebounds, with 27 coming on the defensive end
• Lili Wilken scored 14 of her game-high 25 points in the second half, along with nine boards and two assists
• Millie Brown added 20 points, three assists, two steals and two boards
• UAH finished with 20 points in the paint, 18 points off 19 AAMU turnovers, 17 fastbreak points, 16 bench points and 12 second-chance points