The top team in the SWAC found itself trailing in the fourth quarter Tuesday night but found a way to survive.
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff women’s basketball team fell 75-65 to Texas Southern, the SWAC’s first place team, after a hard-fought game at H.O. Clemmons Arena.
UAPB coach Erica Leak said her players showed grit against the league’s best three days after earning their first conference win of the season against Mississippi Valley State.
“Coming off a win against Valley builds morale, builds confidence,” Leak said. “That’s what we went into this game with. We went in with belief. We went in with confidence, and it showed.”
UAPB (3-16, 1-8 SWAC) led 56-54 with under seven minutes remaining after sophomore guard Jailah Pelly scored while drawing a foul. The Lady Lions had trailed by as much as 42-28 in the third quarter before fighting back.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
TSU (10-10, 9-0) showed its winning pedigree by responding with a 17-3 run to put the game away. UAPB scored late to make the score closer but couldn’t complete the upset.
UAPB forward Kristyna Boyd said the Lady Lions knew what it would take to win.
“We really locked in on our defense like we were supposed to,” Boyd said. “We made shots. The only thing that I would say that kept us from winning this game is knowing how to win, knowing how to settle down when it’s time and keeping up with our (defense) instead of letting them hit wide-open shots.”
The first half featured eight lead changes. The Lady Lions outscored TSU 23-20 in the third, but the Lady Tigers won the fourth 22-14.
TSU entered the game as the SWAC’s leading rebounding team, averaging 45.8 rebounds per conference game. TSU was also averaging 15.5 offensive rebounds per game, third-best in the SWAC.
That remained true Tuesday. TSU outrebounded UAPB 42-25, including 16-5 in offensive rebounds. The Lady Tigers outscored the Lady Lions 16-6 in second-chance points, a 10-point difference in a 10-point game.
Leak said rebounding was the difference in the game.
“We have to be tough with blocking out and securing the basketball,” Leak said. “Securing it, grabbing it, going after it, and we gotta do better at that. Stephanie Okowi is coming along in that category, but she needs some help. So, we’re going to continue to work on that every single day.”
TSU guard Aylasia Fantroy led the Lady Tigers with 24 points, with Jaida Belton adding 13 off the bench.
Pelly and Boyd led the Lady Lions with 20 points apiece. Junior guard D’Arrah Allen, the team’s usual leading scorer, finished with 12 points amid foul trouble. Stephanie Okowi finished with 9 points and 9 rebounds.
Leak said this performance showed the potential this program has, and she believes if the Lady Lions can reach the SWAC tournament, they may surprise some people.
“Get us while you can,” Leak said. “New staff, new year, new players, and we’re doing that? It ain’t no moral victory. We want to win, and we gonna get some wins. Just hold on. Stick with us.”