PINE BLUFF, Ark. – The Alabama State University women's basketball team won their second consecutive Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) contest, pulling out a 74-62 road victory over the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff Saturday night.
The victory by Alabama State (3-10, 2-1 SWAC) was the eighth consecutive victory in the series for the Hornets over Arkansas-Pine Bluff (3-10, 0-2 SWAC), including the last four in Arkansas.
Shamyiah Smith led Alabama State with a season-high 16 points on 57.1 (4-of-7) percent shooting from the floor, pacing three players in double figures.
Britney Wright finished with 13 points and seven rebounds, while
Daniele Ewert finished with 12 points and six rebounds in the win.
Alabama State finished the night shooting 43.5 (20-of-46) percent from the floor, including 44.4 (4-of-9) percent from beyond the arc. The Hornets also shot 71.4 (30-of-42) percent from the free throw line in the win, while forcing 19 turnovers.
The Lady Hornets pulled away in the third quarter, outscoring Arkansas-Pine Bluff 23-14 in the stanza which included a 12-3 run by the Lady Hornets midway through the quarter. During the run, Alabama State held Arkansas-Pine Bluff without a field goal for nearly five minutes until a basket by Faith Ohana with 1:43 remaining in the quarter.
From the that point, the Lady Hornets controlled the remainder of the contest to pull away with the victory – including a 12-2 run by Arkansas-Pine Bluff over the first four minutes of the final quarter.
In the early stages of the game the two teams traded baskets early, before Alabama State took the lead for good with 4:06 remaining in the stanza when Smith hit a lay-up for a 12-10 advantage. The basket started a 9-0 run for the Hornets over the next two minutes of action to extend their first quarter lead.
The lead was extended to 15-10 when
Danielle Clark knocked a three-pointer for a 15-10 advantage with 3:18 to play in the quarter. The Hornets pushed the lead to 17-10 when Ewert knocked down a jumper, and 19-10 when
Kayla Stephens knocked down a pair of free throws with 1:51 to play in the quarter.
After Arkansas-Pine Bluff ended the run, Alabama State scored the final six points of the quarter – ending the quarter on a 15-3 run and extended the lead to 25-13. The two teams struggled from the floor in the second quarter, combining to shoot just 36.8 (7-of-19); however, Alabama State was able to keep the advantage at the break with three field goals in the quarter to take a 32-24 advantage into the locker room.
Destiny Brewton led Arkansas-Pine Bluff with 19 points as the lone player in double figures. The Lady Lions finished the night shooting 41.5 (22-of-53) percent from the floor, and 27.3 (3-of-11) percent from beyond the arc. They also connected on 68.2 (15-of-22) percent from the free throw line, while winning the rebounding battle 36-33.
Alabama State continue their three-game road trip, facing Mississippi Valley State at 5:30 pm Monday before facing Alabama A&M to close out the trip next Saturday.
