MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Faulkner put together an offensive flurry to erase a 13-point third quarter deficit but could not overcome Talladega's rebound advantage in an 81-76 loss Saturday.

"We played our guts out. We executed our game plan and shot the ball well. Everybody gave their best," Faulkner Head Coach Reed Sutton said. "Talladega is just physically superior, beat us on the glass, and got stops on key plays. All credit to their team for the win, but I was extremely proud of our effort against one of the best teams in the country."

The Lady Eagles cut the deficit to 70-68 with 6:21 to play when Nequoia Adams knocked down a free throw. Micala Fisanick knocked down a three with 5:51 left to put Faulkner up 71-70. Kameron Shelley took the lead back for Talladega with a bucket at the 4:54 mark. Adams helped answer at the other end when she fed Olivia Colson who hit a shot to make it 73-72.

Sydni Tears pulled down an offensive rebound off a Kameron Shelley miss and put it back up to give the Tornadoes the lead again at 74-73. The Lady Eagles reclaimed the advantage one final time when Channing Gafford dished to Adams. The freshman guard finished the layup through contact and made the ensuing free throw to put her team up 76-74.

Fu'Tra Banks stole the ball with 2:57 left and finished in transition to tie it. She made the ensuing free throw off the foul call and gave Talladega a lead it never lost at 77-76. Kendall Weary later made a jumper to make it 79-76. After Faulkner failed to get a shot up at the other end, Tierra Tullis stole the ball and dished to Monet Brown, who made the bucket to ice the game.

Talladega controlled the rebounding battle 44-29 but really did its work on the offensive glass. The Tornadoes pulled down 25 offensive boards leading to a 30-3 margin in second chance points.
Tears turned in a double-double for the Tornadoes with 17 points and 16 rebounds. Banks had 19 points and seven rebounds. Tullis notched 15 points while Weary had 13.

Adams topped Faulkner with 16 points while Morgan Holland had 15 points and eight rebounds. Ashlyn Adkins finished with 14 points and four assists. Fisanick had 13 points for the Lady Eagles.
Faulkner (6-6, 0-2 SSAC) returns to action Saturday, Dec. 11 when it travels to Thomas.