The Southwestern Athletic Conference’s best defense knocked the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff out of the SWAC tournament.
The UAPB women’s basketball team lost 70-48 to Jackson State, the SWAC’s regular season champion, in the semifinals Friday night at Bartow Arena in Birmingham, Ala.
No. 4-seed UAPB (17-16) shot 23.7 percent from the floor despite making 7 of 23 3-pointers. This performance came one day after shooting 50 percent from the floor and 65 percent from 3-point range in a quarterfinal win against Alabama A&M.
UAPB guard Kaila Walker scored a team-high 19 points, followed by guard Zaay Green with 15 points and nine rebounds.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
No. 1-seed Jackson State (25-6) built its lead from the free throw line. Jackson State made 13 of 19 attempts from the line in the first half compared to UAPB’s 2 of 4. UAPB cut down on its fouls in the second half and did better at drawing them, but the Lady Lions struggled to take advantage. UAPB finished the game 13 of 23 from the line to Jackson State’s 22 of 32.
Jackson State guards Ti’lan Boler and Andriana Avent scored 19 points each. Forward Angel Jackson scored 11 points with 12 rebounds.
The Lady Tigers outrebounded UAPB 55-40 and outscored the Lady Lions 20-8 in the paint.
Jackson State led 10-0 before UAPB scored its first points on a 3-pointer by guard Tia Morgan with 4:28 remaining in the first quarter. That shot started an 8-1 UAPB run, but free throws allowed Jackson State to take a 17-10 lead into the second quarter. UAPB fouled two 3-point shooters in the first quarter, including Boler in the final seconds. She made all three free throws.
UAPB made three 3-pointers in the second quarter but did not score inside the arc other than one free throw by guard Empress Roberts. Jackson State, meanwhile, put up 21 points in the second and took a 38-20 lead into halftime.
The Lady Lions improved in the second half, but the deficit was too much to overcome. UAPB outscored Jackson State 14-13 in the third quarter, while Jackson State outscored UAPB 19-14 in the fourth. The Lady Lions made 2 of 16 shots in the fourth quarter, though they made 9 of 13 free throws.
Jackson State will face No. 6-seed Alcorn State in the SWAC championship game Saturday at 4:30 p.m. on ESPNU.