Dallas – Amanda Barnes scored 18 points and Taylor Dorsey added 16 as the Sam Houston women's basketball team fell to Florida A&M 69-67 in the third place game at the SMU Thanksgiving Classic Saturday at Moody Coliseum.

The Bearkats rallied from seven points down in the final minute to have a chance to send the game into overtime. After a layup by Dorsey cut the Rattler margin to two, 69-67, with 42 seconds to go, the SHSU women got the ball back on a turnover with 11 seconds to play.

Saundra Gulliory missed a shot at the buzzer and Florida A&M held on for the win. The Rattlers now are 2-4 while the Bearkats stand 0-5.

Shernise Robertson also scored in double figures for the Bearkats with 14 points. Morghen Day led Sam Houston with six assists and Robertson assisted on five baskets.

Led by Kenya Dixon and Taneka Rubin, each with 17 points, Florida A&M led for 30 minutes, going up by as many as 15 points midway through the second half.

The Bearkats held four-point leads three times in the first half, but the Rattlers took over midway through the period to build a 37-27 halftime lead.

Florida A&M appeared in control with a 14 point lead, 65-51 with 7:07 to play, but the Bearkat women started to claw their way back before falling in the last seconds.

Sam Houston returns to Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum Wednesday when the Bearkats play host to Texas Southern at 6:30 p.m.