Free throw shooting made the difference in a tight women’s basketball game Thursday night in Pine Bluff.
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff fell 74-65 to Jackson State at H.O. Clemmons Arena.
Jackson State (15-13, 13-4) shot 21 of 26 from the free throw line. Senior guard Taleah Dilworth and junior guard Jaileyah Cotton each shot 7 of 8 at the line.
UAPB (3-24, 1-16 SWAC) did not attempt a free throw until the 5:06 mark of the third quarter and didn’t make one until the final 2:11 of the quarter. The Lady Lions got to the line more frequently from there but finished 7 of 12.
Junior guard D’Arrah Allen went 4 of 4 at the line for UAPB, with senior forward Stephanie Okowi shooting 2 of 3.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
In a game where UAPB made three more field goals than Jackson State, the 14-point difference at the line swung the game in the visitors’ favor.
UAPB head coach Erica Leak said she wasn’t sure why her team didn’t get more calls.
“I’m working the refs,” Leak said. “I’m saying, ‘They’re fouling. They’re touching.’ D’Arrah goes up, they call it on the floor. I don’t know the reasoning. But in the huddle, if that’s how they’re calling guys, we gotta play through it.”
UAPB sophomore guard Jailah Pelly scored the game’s first 5 points before JSU went on a 9-0 run. UAPB fought back to tie the game at 9 and went on to lead 18-17 after the first quarter. JSU had a 10-0 run early in the second, but UAPB again fought back. A layup by center Briontanay Marshall tied the game at 29, which stood as the halftime score.
The teams traded the lead early in the second half before an 8-0 JSU run put the Lady Tigers in front for good. UAPB kept the deficit to single digits, with the 9-point final score being JSU’s largest lead.
The game finished with seven lead changes and nine ties.
Leak said her team played with grit and determination against one of the SWAC’s top four teams, even if the Lady Lions came up short.
“We’re not going to let anybody come in our house and just dominate us,” Leak said. “We’re going to play for our fans, play for the university, play for the name on the front and the back of those jerseys, and we’re playing for each other.”
Pelly scored a season-high 21 points to lead the Lady Lions. Okowi scored 15 points with 10 rebounds, while Allen scored 14 points with seven assists.
Marshall finished with a season-high 11 rebounds and tied her scoring season high with 8 points. Okowi’s double-double was her fourth of the season, all of them coming since Jan. 23.
Leak said even with the SWAC tournament out of reach, her players are giving their best to close out the season.
“Early on, we put so much emphasis on making the tournament,” Leak said. “When that wasn’t obtainable anymore, we had to dig deep and find another reason, which, we have an opportunity. So, to see them come out here, Stephanie, Briontanay, Pelly. To see them come out here and play their hearts out, it was just a joy to watch as a coach.”
Dilworth led JSU with 26 points, while graduate guard Leianya Massenat scored 19 points after shooting 4 of 9 from 3-point range.