One of the best chances for a SWAC win in Erica Leak’s first year as head coach awaits the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff on Saturday.
Leak said she wants her players to focus on some of the individual battles they need to win within the game when the UAPB women’s basketball team hosts Mississippi Valley State at 3 p.m. at H.O. Clemmons Arena.
“Let’s win the block out war,” Leak said. “Let’s win the execution. Let’s win our transition. Let’s capitalize on that. We’re trying to compartmentalize it where it’s not so overwhelming. … (If) we win the little battles, we will ultimately win the game, but we have to win staying in front of our man on defense. Win making layups. Win making the right play.”
UAPB (2-15, 0-7 SWAC) has struggled in Leak’s first year after she had to build a roster mostly from scratch. The Lady Lions have come close on a few occasions but have yet to beat a Division I foe.
The 0-7 start to league play matches the program’s worst start since the 2013-14 season. That team broke its streak by winning its eighth game at home, the same scenario UAPB faces Saturday.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Senior forward Stephanie Okowi said after last Thursday’s 64-57 loss to Grambling State the Lady Lions need to focus on small details to break though and pick up a win.
“We’re already small in numbers, so we have to make sure everything we do is to a T,” Okowi said. “Make sure it’s right. Make sure we’re executing it. Little things for little teams carry big weight. So, you’re going to have to actually make sure you’re being more productive on what you need to execute if you are smaller, because if you make mistakes, they can be costly.”
Mississippi Valley State (2-17, 1-7) enters Saturday in 11th place, only ahead of UAPB. The Devilettes defeated Prairie View A&M 69-52 on Jan. 11. Prairie View, which now sits in 10th place, beat UAPB 62-58 two days later.
MVSU also defeated Troy 66-65 on Dec. 1. Both wins were at home, with the Devilettes entering Saturday’s game 0-13 on the road.
Valley’s star, senior guard Sh’Diamond McKnight, hasn’t played since suffering an injury on Dec. 5 against Southern Miss, the game after Troy. In her absence, junior D’yanna Maxey leads the Devilettes with 10.4 points per game.
In their last game, the Devilettes got forward Clemisha Prackett back from injury. Prackett, a sophomore, played for Leak at West Memphis High School.
“I do know that she’s going to bring some added energy to that squad, and it’s something that other teams haven’t had to deal with,” Leak said. “We’ll see how that goes.”
Prackett scored 4 points with seven rebounds in her return against Southern. Prior to her injury, she scored 17 points with nine rebounds against Lipscomb, both career highs. She followed that up with 11 points and six rebounds against Arkansas State.
The Devilettes have attempted the most 3-pointers of any SWAC team since the start of conference play and average 5.4 makes per game, though they have the second-lowest percentage, 24.2%. UAPB has the league’s fourth-best percentage, 32.1%, but has attempted the fewest.
UAPB junior guard D’Arrah Allen is the Lady Lions’ top marksman, shooting 38.5% from deep in league games. MVSU is led by Jaylia Reed’s 30%.