Turnovers spoiled Wednesday’s home opener for the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff women’s basketball team, as Sam Houston State took a 78-44 win at H.O. Clemmons Arena.
Head Coach Erica Leak said the Bearkats’ pressure gave her Lady Lions problems.
“They doubled (Jailah) Pelly all night long full court, put pressure on our guards where our second ball handler (Jasmine Davis) had to handle it some, and even Indiya (Bowen), which is getting us out of what we do,” Leak said. “I thought with them denying the wings, they were just tough, all over us. They really dictated, made it hard for us to get into our sets and our offense.”
UAPB (1-2) turned the ball over 31 times, the most the Lady Lions have in a game since turning it over 33 times against Grambling State on Jan. 23. UAPB had 17 turnovers in the first half, matching the full-game total in the opener against Memphis. It was one turnover shy of the total against Arkansas.
Sam Houston (2-1) turned those turnovers into 32 points, including 18 in the first half. The Bearkats entered the game averaging 11.5 steals per game but finished Wednesday with 20. Senior guard Fanta Kone led with eight steals.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Kone scored 17 points with a team-high six assists, but forward Nyla Inmon led the Bearkats with 20 points and six rebounds.
When the Lady Lions didn’t give the ball away, they shot 35.4 percent from the field and 1 of 7 from 3-point range. UAPB trailed 21-10 after the first quarter then didn’t score in the second quarter until the final 3:13 of the half. The Lady Lions made two shots from the field in the second, both coming in the final 1:09 of the first half.
Leak said the Lady Lions had trouble getting into rhythm against Sam Houston’s defense.
“They had tenacious defense, and it’s like, we gotta snap out of it,” Leak said. “So, it just took us a minute. I thought in the third quarter, we’re trying to fight back, fight hard. I think we lost that quarter by 3 points, so we’re making a push, but again, just our guards getting worn down over time really hurt us.”
The Lady Lions started the second half on a 6-0 run after scoring 6 points in the second quarter, but the momentum didn’t last. UAPB did better in the second half, scoring 14 points in each of the final two quarters, but the Lady Lions never threatened the Bearkats’ lead.
Junior guard Pelly led the Lady Lions with 13 points and 10 rebounds. UAPB’s 44 points were the Lady Lions’ fewest at home since scoring 36 in a loss to Southern on Jan. 25.
UAPB got two players back who had missed the first two games. Freshman guard Jakyra Jackson played five minutes in the second half, while sophomore forward Zoey Davis played two.
“Starting to get a little bit healthier,” Leak said. “Just trying to work them in gradually as they make a full recovery. Don’t want to put too much strain on them as that was a fast-paced game. Hopefully in a couple of weeks, we’ll be 100 percent.”
UAPB is still without senior guard Kristyna Boyd, freshman guard Alayiah Price and senior forward Briah Hampton.