New Year’s Day is bringing the start of conference play to the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.
The UAPB women’s basketball team will host Alabama State at 6 p.m. Thursday and Alabama A&M at 3 p.m. Saturday at H.O. Clemmons Arena.
UAPB (3-7) is looking to relocate the success in SWAC play it had prior to last season’s drop-off, and the Lady Lions’ nonconference performance suggests they have a chance to make a run this year.
The SWAC’s women’s teams collected a combined eight wins against Division I opponents in November and December. UAPB was one of two teams to win two such games.
The Lady Lions opened nonconference play by defeating Memphis 69-64 on Nov. 3, then defeated North Alabama 50-48 on Dec. 1 with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from junior guard Indiya Bowen. Both wins came on the road.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
The only team with two Division I nonconference wins is Southern, which won back-to-back road games against Power Four competition. The Lady Jaguars defeated Arizona and Houston of the Big 12 over the course of four days in early December.
This week’s opponents also had notable wins. Alabama State (3-8) won a home game against South Carolina State 59-53 on Dec. 12. The Lady Hornets enter Thursday’s game 0-7 on the road this season.
Saturday’s foe, Alabama A&M (4-8) also defeated North Alabama. The Lady Bulldogs had an easier time against UNA than did UAPB, winning 72-57, though that was a home game. Like their in-state rivals, the Bulldogs are winless on the road entering SWAC play.
Mississippi Valley State’s win against Lipscomb and Jackson State’s win against Gardner-Webb were the SWAC’s other two Division I nonconference wins. AAMU will face MVSU on Thursday before coming to Pine Bluff.
UAPB is 1-1 at home this year with a 78-44 loss to Sam Houston State and an 85-51 win against Arkansas Baptist.
If the Lady Lions want to start SWAC play with wins, they will need to protect the basketball. UAPB is averaging 21.3 turnovers per game, and the Lady Lions’ worst turnover games have been their two in Pine Bluff. UAPB turned over the ball 35 times against SHSU and 31 times against Baptist.
UAPB could also use a third scorer. Bowen and fellow junior Jailah Pelly are averaging 12.1 and 12.9 points per game, respectively, but nobody else is scoring more than 5.0 per game.
ASU junior forward Charlese McClendon leads her team with 7.3 points per game, while AAMU is led by three former Lady Lions. Kaila Walker is averaging 11.4, Coriah Beck 11.2, and Moses Davenport 10.0. AAMU is led by former UAPB coach Dawn Thornton.
Thursday’s SWAC opener will be UAPB’s first game since Dec. 18.