Lady Lions’ Tournament Run Ends in SWAC Semifinals Against Alabama State

The Arkansas–Pine Bluff Golden Lions women’s basketball saw their impressive postseason run come to an end Friday evening with a 72–59 loss to the Alabama State Lady Hornets women’s basketball in the semifinals of the Southwestern Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament at Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia.

UAPB entered the matchup as the No. 7 seed, riding the momentum of a quarterfinal upset over No. 2 seed Alcorn State Braves women’s basketball, where the Lady Lions earned a 64–60 victory to advance to the semifinal round.

Facing the No. 3 seed Alabama State, the Lady Lions battled early, but the Hornets used strong runs in the opening and closing periods to secure the victory.

Game Recap

Alabama State jumped out quickly, taking control of the first quarter with a 22–13 advantage. UAPB responded in the second quarter, tightening the game and heading into halftime trailing by just one possession.

Despite the Lady Lions’ effort to keep pace, Alabama State maintained pressure in the third quarter before pulling away in the fourth. The Hornets outscored UAPB 23–12 in the final period, sealing the 72–59 semifinal win and advancing to the SWAC championship game.

UAPB standout Jailah Pelly delivered an all-around performance for the Lady Lions, recording 11 points, seven rebounds, and eight assists, but Alabama State’s balanced scoring proved too much down the stretch.

Tournament Run to Remember

Although the Lady Lions fell short of the championship game, their postseason run highlighted resilience and determination. As the lowest seed remaining in the field, UAPB’s quarterfinal upset over Alcorn State was one of the biggest surprises of the tournament.

The Lady Lions finished the season with a 15–16 overall record and a 10–8 mark in SWAC play, proving they could compete with the conference’s top teams during tournament time.

Looking Ahead

For UAPB, the semifinal appearance provides momentum heading into the offseason. With key contributors returning and the experience gained from a deep conference tournament run, the Lady Lions will look to build on this postseason push as they prepare for the 2026–27 campaign.

Meanwhile, Alabama State advanced to the SWAC championship game to face the Southern Jaguars women’s basketball, with the conference title and an automatic NCAA Tournament berth on the line.