TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Jaclyn Jarnot had a double-double and Zoe Piller scored 16 points but UWF fell to Division I Florida A&M, 62-58, in an exhibition game at the Al Lawson Center Wednesday.
UWF shot 33 percent and led for the majority of the first half, but suffered a poor shooting performance in the second half as FAMU outscored the Argos 10-6 in the final 4:10.
Trailing 61-58 after a Jarnot turnaround jumper with 1:20 to play, the Argonauts stopped the Rattlers on consecutive possessions but missed a Jarnot field goal and turned the ball over with four seconds remaining. Ahriahna Grizzle made one of two free throws to seal the game for FAMU. She led all players with 26 points, making 8-of-21 from the floor and 9-of-11 at the free throw line.
FAMU held a 38-37 rebounding edge and scored five of their 15 points off turnovers in the fourth quarter.
UWF came out on fire, making four of its first six shots on its way to a 15-11 lead. The Rattlers battled back to tie it at 17 at the end of the quarter. UWF continued to be the aggressor, holding a 28-25 lead midway through the second quarter before the Blue and Green closed the half on a 9-4 run to take a 37-35 lead into the locker room.
After the teams struggled to get an offensive rhythm to start the second half – each scoring four points in 5:08, FAMU went on a 10-0 run to grab a 47-41 lead. The Argos put together a 6-0 run to retake the lead on back-to-back Piller baskets to start the fourth for a 52-49 advantage. The Rattlers responded with the next eight points to lead by five. They maintained a 5-point lead until Jarnot's jumper with 80 seconds remaining.
Jarnot ended with 12 points, 10 rebounds and two blocked shots. Maddie Griffon had seven points, three assists and three steals off the bench for UWF.
Both teams struggled at the foul line, with UWF missing nine and FAMU putting eight off target.
UWF will officially tip-off the season next week in West Palm Beach, Florida at the South Region Crossover. The Argos will face Palm Beach Atlantic on Friday, Nov. 11 and No. 11 Eckerd on Saturday, Nov. 12.
