UAPB Women Hoops Fall To Prairie View A&M

January 16, 2023\ during 1st half womens NCAA basketball game action between Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions and the Bethune Cookman Wildcats at Moore Gymnasium in Daytona Beach, FL. Romeo T Guzman/BCU Athletics

PRAIRIE VIEW, TX –UAPB women’s basketball team had 10 fewer turnovers than Prairie View A&M, but fell 78-68 to the Lady Panthers on the road Saturday.

The Lady Lions had four players score in double figures, led by Coriah Beck, who had 16 points and three steals. Tia Morgan added 13 points and two steals and Demetria Shephard chipped in as well with 12 points and two steals.

Led by Kourtney Rittenberry’s five offensive rebounds, UAPB did a great job crashing the offensive glass, pulling down 16 boards that resulted in 14 second chance points.

The UAPB defense was effective at taking away the basketball in Saturday’s game, forcing 32 Prairie View A&M turnovers while committing 22. Those takeaways turned into 23 points on the other end of the floor. Beck’s three steals led the way individually for the Lady Lions.

How It Happened

UAPB struggled out of the gate, falling behind 16-7 at the end of the first quarter.

Prairie View A&M kept adding to that lead, building a 24-14 advantage before UAPB went on a 6-0 run, highlighted by a bucket from Rittenberry, to narrow its deficit to 24-20. Prairie View A&M responded and expanded its lead, leaving the Lady Lions trailing 33-24 heading into halftime.

UAPB came out of halftime on fire, going on a 7-0 run, punctuated by a basket from Maya Peat, to trim its deficit to 33-31 with 8:31 to go in the third. Prairie View A&M countered and stretched its lead to 56-46 heading into the fourth. UAPB played well near the basket, scoring 14 of its 22 points in the paint.

Prairie View A&M kept widening its lead in the fourth, constructing a 76-59 advantage before UAPB went on a 5-0 run, finished off by Morgan’s layup, to shrink the deficit to 76-64 with 40 seconds to go in the contest. The Lady Lions kept their comeback going, but Prairie View A&M managed to hold on for the 78-68 win. UAPB took advantage of seven Prairie View A&M turnovers in the quarter, scoring 10 points off of those takeaways.

Game Notes

UAPB bench came alive by scoring 25 points to its scoring output.
» The Lady Lions dominated the turnover battle, forcing 32 Prairie View A&M giveaways while committing only 22.
» The UAPB defense forced 32 turnovers.
» UAPB cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 16 offensive boards in the game.
» Coriah Beck led the Lady Lions with a game-high 16 points.
» UAPB got a team-high nine rebounds from Kourtney Rittenberry.

The Lady Lions will look to bounce back to wrap up their two-game road trip against Texas Southern, Sunday, February 20.  Tip-off is set for  5:30 p.m CT.