Box Score TALLADEGA, Ala. – Faulkner trailed for just over three minutes Saturday afternoon on its way to a critical 71-66 SSAC road win over Talladega. Anyia Pride knocked down a jumper with 7:58 to play in the game, giving Talladega its largest lead of the day at 58-53. Micala Fisanick answered at the other end with a jumper of her own before Ashlyn Adkins drained a three to tie the game with 6:59 to go. 

"Every game we have played in the SSAC this season has come down to the last minute. We have lost our share of close ones, but our team has kept chopping wood. It is such a big win for our team in terms of belief in ourselves," Faulkner head coach Reed Sutton, who spent the game in quarantine due to health and safety protocols, said. "We don't have to play perfect, but we have to defend and rebound to win! To be able to do that against a top 35 team that we deeply respect, on the road, with injuries, and illness is so big for us. We found a way. I am so happy for Coach (Jacob) Roark and Coach (Mike) Anderson who prepared so well, coached so well today, and kept our team believing. Now it's time to build on this win and try to string some together."

A Morgan Holland layup at 5:56 gave the Lady Eagles a brief lead. Kameron Shelley answered with two free throws 16 seconds later to tie the game again. Holland than made consecutive layups for Faulkner ahead of a Sydni Tears three. Adkins drained her seventh and final triple of the day with 4:27 to go, leaving Faulkner up 67-61. The Tornadoes would get no closer than four the rest of the way.

Faulkner went up by as many as nine in the first quarter before Talladega opened the second quarter on a 10-0 run to erase the advantage on a Pride layup with 6:40 left until half. Kendall Weary gave Talladega its first lead with a layup at the 6:27 mark. A Holland three with 5:46 until the break put Faulkner back on top. Ayasha Thomas answered with a long-range shot of her own for 'Dega before Adkins hit another to catapult Faulkner back in front. The Lady Eagles went to the half up 33-29. 

Faulkner won the game despite turning the ball over 32 times in the contest. The Lady Eagles got much of their work done on the defensive end and the boards. Sutton's squad held Talladega to 38 percent shooting from the field and just 12.5 percent from three while also winning the rebounding battle 41-35. Faulkner shot the ball well from the field, knocking down 47 percent of their shots from the floor including 51.9 percent from three. 

Adkins made a career high seven threes on the way to 25 points as she topped all scorers in the game and broke the program's all-time scoring record. Holland contributed 18 points and eight rebounds while Channing Gafford had 15 points and six boards.
 
Faulkner (9-9, 2-4 SSAC) hits the road Monday for a makeup contest at Stillman.