Box Score PINE BLUFF, Ark. | With a 58-56 overtime win over Arkansas Pine-Bluff on Saturday night, head coach Freda-Freeman Jackson achieved a significant milestone by becoming just one of three active coaches in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) to reach 300 career wins.
Alabama State (3-11, 2-1 SWAC) outscored UAPB (3-6, 0-2 SWAC) 17-11 in the third quarter to take a 37-32 lead heading into the final stanza before the Lady Lions outscored the Lady Hornets 18-13 down the stretch to force overtime.
Trailing with less than a minute left in overtime, things looked bleak for the Lady Hornets after Kyeonia Harris forced an Alabama State turnover and scored via a layup to extend the lead to 56-52. A
Shmya Ward put back followed by a steal and score by
Ayana Emmanuel tied the game.
The Lady Hornets then forced a turnover to gain possession in the final seconds and a layup by Ward would lift Alabama State past the Lady Lions for the dramatic victory.
The Lady Hornets held Pine-Bluff to just 29.3 (17-of-58) percent shooting from the floor and 16.7 (2-of-12) percent from beyond the arc, while shooting 54.1 (20-of-37) percent shooting from the free throw line.
Ward led all scorers with 15 and 10 rebounds and Emmanuel added 11 in the win for Alabama State, who finished the night shooting 37.5 (21-of-56) percent from the floor, 16.7 (2-of-12) percent from beyond the arc and 60.9 (14-of-23) percent from the charity stripe.
UAPB's Noe'll Taylor led the Lady Lions with 11 points and Kyeonia Harris chipped in 10 points.
Inside the Numbers
The Lady Hornets registered 49 rebounds, while UAPB had 40.
Alabama State forced 25 turnovers, while the Lady Lions forced 31 turnovers.
The Lady Hornets held Pine-Bluff to just two three-pointers made, a season low for an Alabama State opponent.
Ward recorded another double-double, marking the third double-double of the freshman's career.
QUOTABLES - Head Coach Freda Freeman-Jackson
Thoughts on tonight: "I have to give credit to Arkansas Pine-Bluff, they understand their assignments and they held us to only 20 points in the first half so they did a great job of executing. They played hard and I have to commend them on a tough game."
On gaining composure after UAPB run: "We talked before the game about winning on the road and the most important keys were playing together, have confidence and withstand runs and that's what we did. I am proud of them for not giving up and facing adversity."
On balanced scoring: "It was good for my girls to see that they aren't going to score 30 points a game, especially on the road in other gyms. I thought
Armani Smith stepped up offensively as well as
Areleatha Gipson, so it was good to move the ball around and get scoring from various players."
NEXT UP
Alabama State will continue its road trip, traveling to Itta Bena, Miss. to face the Lady Devilettes of Mississippi Valley State Monday night. Tip off is scheduled for 5:30 pm, with pregame beginning at 5:15 pm on the Hornets Sports Network.
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