With one of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff’s top scorers out for the season, the Lady Lions will lean on defense during this week’s SWAC women’s basketball tournament.
UAPB will face Alabama A&M at 5:30 p.m. Thursday in the opening round at Bartow Arena, which is on the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s campus. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
No. 4 UAPB (16-15, 11-7 SWAC) will be without second team all-SWAC guard Coriah Beck, who tore her Achilles tendon during last Thursday’s game at Jackson State, which also caused her to miss the regular season finale at Alcorn State. She is scheduled to have surgery Friday.
UAPB coach Dawn Thornton said with Beck out, playing good defense will be critical.
“The young ladies, they’ve bought into that,” Thornton said. “That’s been beautiful, and that’s been a joy, actually, even coaching, knowing that they’re locked into it ready to learn as much as they possibly can learn. Our practices are even longer, and everybody’s like, ‘OK, Coach. What’s next? What’s next? What’s next?’ So, they’ve embraced it.”
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Beck was UAPB’s second-leading scorer overall this season but tied first team all-SWAC guard Zaay Green in conference play with 13.4 points per SWAC game. This mark tied the duo for seventh in the SWAC alongside Mississippi Valley State guard Sh’Diamond McKnight.
Beck’s absence is the latest change to a UAPB roster which has been in flux the past few weeks. UAPB lost guards Jelissa Reese and Demetria Shephard with five games remaining in the regular season.
Neither remains on UAPB’s roster, nor does guard Corina Carter. Green returned last week after missing four of the prior six games and is expected to play in Birmingham.
The constant changes to the lineup coincided with the Lady Lions winning just three of their final eight regular- season games after starting SWAC play 8-2.
Thornton said morale remains high despite this, because players who had wanted more playing time now have that opportunity.
“They’re ready to step up, to embrace their new roles,” Thornton said. “You can only image how much excitement a lot of those players [have] who’ve been wanting to play significant minutes [and] are now getting those minutes. The Kourtney Rittenberys, the Empress Robertses, the Stephanie Okowis.
“All of those players who only played small, minor roles for us in the past have big shoes to fill right now, and they are 100 percent excited about it. It’s been a pleasure to come into practice to see them locked in so tight to what we’re trying to do and what we need to do.”
No. 5 Alabama A&M (15-15, 10-8) split two regular-season meetings with UAPB. The Lady Lions won 75-67 in Pine Bluff on Jan. 6, but the Lady Bulldogs avenged that loss at home Feb. 19, 67-59. This marks the second-straight year the two teams have met in the opening round of the SWAC tournament, with UAPB winning 62-55 last season.
AAMU guard Amiah Simmons, who was named second team all-SWAC, averaged 15.6 points per game in SWAC play, third-best in the league.
UAPB held her to 11 points in the Lady Lions’ January win, but Simmons scored 20 with nine rebounds in the rematch.
Thornton said containing Simmons has been a big focus in practice this week.
“We’ve allowed her to get comfortable multiple times when we’ve played against them,” Thornton said. “You definitely have to find a way to shut her down, to slow her down, and not let her be so comfortable on the floor.”
AAMU also features the SWAC freshman of the year, Kaylah Turner.
The winner of Thursday’s game will advance to the semifinals Friday at 5:30 p.m. against No. 1 Jackson State. The SWAC championship game is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Saturday on ESPNU.
Maori Davenport of UAPB lines up with Jaylia Reed of Mississippi Valley State in a March 2 game. (Pine Bluff Commercial/I.C. Murrell)More News
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SWAC women’s basketball tournament
Wednesday’s games
No. 2 Grambling State 66, No. 7 Florida A&M 60
No. 1 Jackson State 66, No. 8 Prairie View A&M 58
Thursday’s games
No. 3 Southern vs. No. 6 Alcorn State, 11 a.m.; winner plays Grambling State
No. 4 UAPB vs. No. 5 Alabama A&M, 5:30 p.m.; winner plays Jackson State