One final home game remains for the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff before the women’s basketball team hits the road the rest of the season.
UAPB will host Mississippi Valley State at 3 p.m. Saturday at H.O. Clemmons Arena for senior day. Lady Lions Coach Erica Leak said finishing strong at home would mean a lot to her team.
“We’ve set out some goals this year, and for them to work hard and see them accomplish them is huge,” Leak said. “So, (Saturday) is another goal we’ve set, seven wins consecutively at home. … That would be huge, and it’s senior (day). We want to honor Briontanay Marshall, Kristyna Boyd and our newest newcomer, Briah Hampton — all seniors.”
UAPB (11-14, 8-7 SWAC) has won its past six home games and is 7-3 at home overall. One final win would give the Lady Lions their most home wins in a season since 2023-24. It would also mathematically ensure they finish top seven in the SWAC standings with two games to go.
A win would also give UAPB its second three-game winning streak of the season ahead of next week’s challenging road games against Jackson State and Alcorn State, which will come on a short turnaround. After playing Saturday, the Lady Lions will play next Tuesday and Thursday to wrap up the regular season.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
After those games in Mississippi, UAPB will make its first appearance in the SWAC tournament since 2024 and its first under Leak. She said the Lady Lions are trending upward as the postseason approaches.
“(Khaniah Gardner) is playing some of the best basketball she’s ever played,” Leak said. “When we (first) played Valley, she was nowhere near getting Impact Player of the Week. I think this is her third one in three weeks. She wasn’t a factor as huge as she’s been. (Jakyra Jackson) wasn’t a factor. … Everybody’s playing on all cylinders right now, because everyone knows their role.”
When UAPB and Mississippi Valley State (6-20, 5-10) last met on Jan. 31 in Itta Bena, Miss., the Lady Lions had to rally from a 52-47 deficit entering the fourth quarter. Junior guard Indiya Bowen drew a shooting foul with 0.5 seconds remaining in a tie game and made both free throws to give UAPB a 68-66 road win.
The Lady Lions had trailed since the final 2 minutes of the second quarter. The comeback win was UAPB’s third fourth-quarter comeback win on the road this season and gave the Lady Lions one of their two SWAC road wins.
Leak said the Lady Lions must execute better on defense than in the first matchup.
“It’ll be a defensive and rebounding basketball game,” Leak said. “They have bigs that actually get after it and rebound the ball, and they have pretty good guards, too. I know (senior guard Janiya Jones) can really shoot it, so we need to know where she is in transition. It’s going to be defense and rebounding. Remember, who wins the rebound war is going to win that game.”
Valley is coming off Monday’s 84-59 loss at Grambling State, which snapped a two-game winning streak. The Devilettes have one road win this season, an 80-73 victory against a Prairie View A&M team which has yet to beat a Division I opponent.
The Devilettes’ offense is balanced, with scoring shared by several players. Junior guard Sydnei Marshall has led Valley since the start of SWAC play, scoring 11.3 points per conference game. Sophomore guard Jaeda Murphy averages 10.8.
Graduate forward Ariel Jefferson is Valley’s leading scorer for the overall season but ranks third in SWAC play with 9.7 points per game. The Clarendon native led Valley with 18 points and 10 rebounds in the last game against UAPB.
Four others average 6.5 points or more. Leak said she believes her team will be able to score in transition and off turnovers, so the key will be making sure all five Lady Lions on the court play defense.
“Normally, you can try to cut the head off the snake, but when it’s a collective team effort, you just have to play good, solid defense, because anybody can score,” Leak said. “So, that’s why I know it’s going to be a defensive game, and we really gotta lock in on staying in front of our man and defending them and rebounding the basketball.”
UAPB has won 12 of its past 13 games against Valley, including its past six in Pine Bluff.