UAPB Women Hoops Complete Comeback Over Central Arkansas 61-57 in OT

PINE BLUFF, AR – Maori Davenport hit a game-tying shot with 30 seconds left on the clock to send the game to overtime and Jelissa Reese put the UAPB women’s basketball team ahead for good with 4:09 to go the extra period to give the Lady Lions a 61-57 win over the Central Arkansas Sugar Bears at home Monday.

The Lady Lions had three players score in double figures, led by Coriah Beck, who had 16 points and six rebounds. Reese added 14 points and seven rebounds and Maya Peat helped out with 10 points and six rebounds off of the bench.

Maori Davenport pulled down two offensive rebounds to pace an offense that racked up second chance opportunities for UAPB, grabbing 11 boards and turning them into six second chance points.

UAPB did a great job disrupting Central Arkansas shots in the contest, coming away with five blocks. Davenport led the way individually for the Lady Lions with two rejections.

How It Happened

UAPB struggled out of the gate, falling behind 15-8 at the end of the first quarter.

Central Arkansas kept adding to that lead, building an 18-9 advantage before UAPB went on a 7-0 run, highlighted by a bucket from Reese, to narrow its deficit to 18-16. Central Arkansas responded and expanded its lead, leaving the Lady Lions trailing 21-18 heading into halftime.

Central Arkansas continued to increase its lead after halftime, building a 30-25 advantage before UAPB went on a 5-0 run, punctuated by a three from Stephanie Okowi, to tie things up at 30 with 1:35 to go in the third. The Lady Lions could not advance their rally further as the Sugar Bears took a 34-30 lead into the fourth quarter. UAPB played well near the basket, scoring eight of its 12 points in the paint.

Central Arkansas kept widening its lead in the fourth, constructing a 45-35 advantage before UAPB went on a 5-0 run, finished off by Davenport’s layup, to shrink the deficit to 45-40 with 3:32 to go in the fourth. The Lady Lions rally continued as they outscored Central Arkansas 10-5 the rest of the way to tie it at 50-50 and send the game to overtime. UAPB took advantage of three Central Arkansas turnovers in the quarter, scoring five points off of those takeaways.

UAPB then took care of business in extra time, outscoring Central Arkansas 11-7 to seize victory by the 61-57 final score.

Game Notes

» The Lady Lions rallied from a four-point 34-30 third quarter deficit to force the game into overtime.
» The Lady Lions held the Sugar Bears to only 30.5 percent shooting from the field.
» UAPB had a great day defensively, holding Central Arkansas to 17 percent from three point land on 18 attempts.
» The UAPB defense forced 22 turnovers.
» The Lady Lions were active in affecting shots on the defensive end, recording five blocks as a team.
» UAPB cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 11 offensive boards in the game.
» Coriah Beck led the Lady Lions with 16 points.
» UAPB got a team-high seven rebounds from Jelissa Reese.