Free-throw shooting could play a major role on Saturday as the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff women’s basketball team looks to bounce back with a win at Mississippi Valley State.
Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. at the R.W. Harrison HPER Complex in Itta Bena, Miss. Since the start of conference play, games involving Valley (4-14, 3-4) have featured more free throws than any other SWAC team.
The Devilettes have shot 222 free throws in conference play, 26 more than any other SWAC team. They have sent their opponents to the line for 204 free throws, 21 more than any other team.
UAPB (6-12, 3-5) has been more disciplined defensively. The Lady Lions’ opponents have attempted 138 free throws since the start of SWAC play, which is tied for the third fewest. UAPB has been in the middle of the pack at getting to the foul line, shooting 177 attempts.
Neither team has been great at making free throws, but UAPB has shot a SWAC-worst 56.5% since New Year’s Day. Valley’s 62.2% at the line ranks ninth.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
UAPB junior guard Indiya Bowen has been the best foul shooter from either team in SWAC play. She has made 27 of 34 (79.4%) at the line, which leads UAPB and ranks ninth in the SWAC. Valley center Nairobi Lewis has made 19 of 26 (73.1%) in SWAC play, which ranks 11th.
Away from the foul line, UAPB enters this game on its hottest shooting streak from the floor this season.
UAPB is shooting 37% from the field, but that increases to 39.7% in SWAC play, which ranks third in the league. The Lady Lions have shot 45% over the past four games and shot 40% or better from the field in each, a mark they had met only twice in the 14 games prior.
This streak started with a 57.4% night against Bethune-Cookman, UAPB’s best shooting performance in Erica Leak’s two-year tenure as head coach. The Lady Lions followed that by making 10 three-pointers against Florida A&M to finish a home stand 2-0.
UAPB continued to shoot well last week in Louisiana but fell short of adding to its win streak. The Lady Lions shot 45.5% against Grambling State but shot 0 of 5 from three-point range and turned the ball over 32 times. UAPB made seven three-pointers against Southern University (La.), but the Lady Jaguars shot a blistering 52.3% to win at home.
Since the start of SWAC play, UAPB’s opponents have shot a conference-leading 41.4%. UAPB will need to protect the ball and improve defensively to snap its two-game losing skid.
Valley graduate forward Ariel Jefferson leads the Devilettes with 9.5 points and 6.4 rebounds per game, both team highs. Junior guard Sydnei Marshall is averaging 8.4 points per game overall but 10.6 per game in SWAC play.
UAPB enters Saturday half a game behind Valley in the SWAC standings. The Lady Lions are tied with Jackson State for ninth and will face the Tigers at home in their next game following Saturday’s road trip to Valley, making for an important two-game stretch ahead of a date against an Alcorn State team 6-1 in the conference.