ORANGEBURG, SC – The South Carolina State women erased a 20-point deficit in regulation before falling 83-80 to visiting Florida A&M in overtime Monday at S-H-M Memorial Center.

The Lady Bulldogs were behind by 20 twice in the second half, the last time at 56-36 with 12:40 to play, before mounting a furious rally that pulled them even at 71-all with 20 seconds left in regulation.  Following a FAMU turnover, SC State got the ball back with an opportunity to win but a held ball gave the Lady Rattlers possession with :04 left on the clock but the visitors' long attempt as time expired was off the mark, sending the contest to an extra period.

SC State took a one-point 72-71 lead in overtime when Sophilia Hipps made one of two free throws with 4:36 left in the extra period before the visitors took charge, scoring seven straight points to build a 78-72 edge with 1:40 on the clock.

The Lady Bulldogs closed the gap to 78-77 on a 3-pointer by Whitney Wiley with 1:03 remaining but could get no closer as FAMU got five of the last eight points to pull out the win, giving it a sweep of the series this season.

Wiley had 21 points and Hipps 19 to lead the Lady Bulldogs, who fell to 10-18 and 5-11 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Tiana Hemphill came off the bench for 10 points and a team-high 11 boards in the loss.

FAMU was led by Antonia Bennett with 27 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Tameka McKelton added 21 points and seven boards and Deidra Jones 12 points in the win, which lifted the visitors to 17-10 and 8-7 in the league.

The SC State women close out their regular season Thursday when they host Winston-Salem State in the first game of an MEAC doubleheader, beginning at 5:30. It will be “Senior Day.”

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