Defense continued to shine for the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff women’s basketball team on the road Saturday afternoon.
UAPB defeated Alabama State 70-47 in Montgomery, Ala., setting a season low in points allowed in SWAC play.
UAPB (14-11, 9-3 SWAC) held Alabama State to 34 percent from the field and allowed 19 second-half points, turning a close game into a blowout. The Lady Hornets didn’t score in the game’s final 2:20.
Alabama State (3-20, 3-9) became the third SWAC team to score fewer than 50 points against UAPB this season. Grambling State scored 49 on Jan. 29, and Prairie View A&M scored 48 on Feb. 5, both away from Pine Bluff.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
UAPB scored 30 points off 21 turnovers and outscored Bama State 20-4 on the fast break. Although the Lady Lions turned the ball over 18 times, Alabama State only managed 8 points from those.
Senior forward Cordasia Harris led the Lady Hornets with 14 points and 11 rebounds, but no other Alabama State player scored more than 6.
Four Lady Lions reached double digits, led by guard Demetria Shephard with 15. Zaay Green, who returned to the lineup Saturday after missing UAPB’s previous game, scored 12 points with 16 rebounds and eight assists.
Jelissa Reese scored 12 points with seven rebounds, while Kaila Walker scored 10 points after making three 3-pointers.
The game was tied at 15 after the first quarter. April Hooks started the second quarter with a 3-pointer to give the Lady Hornets the lead, but UAPB answered with an 8-0 run and never trailed again. UAPB led 34-28 at halftime before dominating the second half. The Lady Lions outscored ASU 21-10 in the fourth quarter.
UAPB has now won six of its past seven games. Opponents are averaging 56 points per game during this stretch.
UAPB will play Alabama A&M at 5 p.m. Monday.