Florida A&M University’s women’s basketball team will return to the Al Lawson Center this week for two important Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) games. The Rattlers are set to face Jackson State on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. ET and Alcorn State on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. ET, with both games broadcast live on SWAC TV.
The Rattlers have focused on building a competitive identity around free-throw shooting, rebounding, and physical play. They currently lead the SWAC in free-throw percentage at 69.7% and are second in the conference with an average of 13.8 free throws made per game. The team is also strong on offensive rebounds, averaging 13.6 per game, which helps generate additional scoring chances.
Defensively, Florida A&M averages 2.3 blocks per game and secures about 23.7 defensive rebounds each contest, placing them among the top teams in these categories within the conference.
Tahnyjia Purifoy stands out as a key player for FAMU, leading the conference in free throws made with 62 and ranking among the top-100 nationally by converting 82.7% of her attempts from the line.
Looking ahead to Thursday’s opponent, Jackson State is known for its perimeter offense and efficient ball handling. The Tigers have the best assist-to-turnover ratio in the SWAC (0.74) and lead the league in three-point shooting at 32%, making an average of 6.5 threes per game. Rhema Pegues is a notable threat from long range, leading the conference with 42 made three-pointers this season.
Saturday’s matchup features Alcorn State, which emphasizes defense and disciplined play in half-court situations. The Braves allow only 63.1 points per game—second-best in the SWAC—and limit opponents to just 28.2% shooting from beyond the arc.
Kiarra Henderson leads Alcorn State with an average of 4.2 assists per game while Nakia Cheatham tops both steals (38) and field-goal percentage (43.5%) for her team.
The Rattlers’ approach this week will focus on maintaining discipline defensively, capitalizing on offensive rebounds, drawing fouls, and controlling tempo against both opponents.
“For Florida A&M, this week is about imposing effort, discipline, and toughness,” according to team officials in their preview statement.
“The Rattlers’ ability to: get to the free-throw line,
dominate second-chance opportunities,
and defend without fouling will determine how competitive these matchups become.
If FAMU continues to convert at the stripe, win the rebounding battle, and limit perimeter breakdowns, the Rattlers are positioned to challenge two of the SWAC’s most stylistically different teams – and continue building momentum as conference play intensifies.”
Both contests represent significant tests as Florida A&M seeks to improve its standing during a critical stretch of league play.
