An inability to protect the basketball Thursday night ended the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff’s brief winning streak in women’s action.
Grambling State picked up a 65-54 win over UAPB at the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center in Grambling, La., in the first of three straight road games for the Lady Lions.
UAPB (6-11, 3-4 SWAC) finished with 32 turnovers, its second-most in a game this season behind the Nov. 12 home opener against Sam Houston State. UAPB had 35 in that game. The 32 turnovers were tied for the most by a Grambling opponent this year, matching the number Ouachita Baptist and LeTourneau had against the Lady Tigers.
Junior guard Indiya Bowen led UAPB in points with 12, assists with three and steals with four while battling foul trouble, but she also led the team with nine turnovers. Junior guard Jailah Pelly scored 10 points with forward Khaniah Gardner adding nine points and six rebounds, but both finished with six turnovers.
Grambling (6-13, 3-3) turned those turnovers, many of which resulted from its full-court press, into 35 points. Senior forward Zaria Johnson led the Lady Tigers with 17 points, while senior forward Shaniah Nunn scored 14 points with eight rebounds. Point guard Douthshine Prien didn’t score but led the Tigers with six assists and four steals to go with five rebounds.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
UAPB shot 45.5% from the field, a much higher rate than Grambling’s 37.1%, but the Lady Lions’ turnovers limited their opportunities to shoot. UAPB finished with 44 shot attempts to Grambling’s 70. The Lady Lions finished 0 for 5 from three-point range and made 14 of 24 free throws.
UAPB led 4-0 early before turnovers fueled a 16-2 Grambling run. The Lady Tigers led the rest of the night. The closest the Lady Lions got after the first quarter was a 46-38 deficit late in the third quarter.
An 8-0 run in the fourth got the deficit back to 59-50 with 3:44 remaining, but the Lady Lions only made one more shot from the field, a layup by freshman Jakyra Jackson with 29 seconds left.
This loss came after UAPB had won three of its past four games, including a 2-0 weekend at home last week. The Lady Lions will continue their road trip on Saturday at Southern, which defeated Mississippi Valley State 69-46 on Thursday to remain tied for first in the SWAC.