TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Interstat) — In a game defined by a decisive third-quarter surge and clutch late free throws, the Florida A&M Lady Rattlers held off the Jackson State Lady Tigers 68-63 in a Southwestern Athletic Conference women’s basketball matchup Thursday night at the Alfred Lawson, Jr. Multipurpose Center.

The Lady Rattlers, who improved to 5-12 overall, outscored Jackson State 23-12 in the pivotal third period to turn a one-point halftime deficit into a 10-point lead they would not relinquish. The Lady Tigers, who fell to 4-14, mounted several challenges in the final quarter but were ultimately undone by turnovers and missed opportunities at the foul line.

Jackson State opened the game efficiently, connecting on 10 of 18 attempts from three-point range for the night. Angel Wilkinson led the charge, scoring 18 points, all from beyond the arc, hitting six three-pointers. Jaileyah Cotton added 10 points and five assists for the Lady Tigers.

Florida A&M countered with superior ball security and aggression inside. The Lady Rattlers committed only nine turnovers while forcing 17 from Jackson State. That edge, combined with a 15-for-20 performance at the free throw line compared to Jackson State’s 7-for-12, proved critical in the tight contest.

Shaniyah McCarthy was the engine for Florida A&M, scoring a game-high 22 points in 39 minutes. Her backcourt partner, Tahnyjia Purifoy, orchestrated the offense with 11 points and five assists, while also contributing five steals on the defensive end. Camille Jackson provided 12 points and Breazia Robinson anchored the paint with eight points and three blocks.

The most important sequence of the game unfolded in the final 30 seconds. Clinging to a 65-63 lead after a Jackson State rally, Florida A&M forced a critical turnover. Purifoy was fouled and sank the first of two free throws with eight seconds left to extend the lead to three. After she missed the second, Jackson State secured the rebound but turned the ball over again on the ensuing possession. Purifoy was immediately fouled and hit one more free throw to seal the five-point victory, capping a game where her poise and defensive pressure were paramount.

The teams played to a 16-16 stalemate in the first quarter before Jackson State used its perimeter shooting to take a 39-33 lead into halftime. The script flipped completely after the break, as Florida A&M opened the third quarter with a 13-2 run, fueled by McCarthy’s scoring and disruptive team defense. Jackson State never recovered the lead, though they cut the margin to two points on multiple occasions in the fourth quarter.

Jackson State shot 46% from the field but its 17 turnovers and subpar free-throw shooting offset that efficiency. Florida A&M shot 51% from the floor and won despite being out-rebounded on the offensive glass 9-4.

The announced attendance was 601. Both teams return to SWAC action on Saturday, with Jackson State traveling to face Bethune-Cookman and Florida A&M hosting Alcorn State.