MONTGOMERY, Ala. | Ayana Emmanuel scored 16 points and Shmya Ward finished with a double-double as Alabama State got back in the win column, defeating Arkansas Pine-Bluff, 73-52, in a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) game on Saturday evening inside of Dunn-Oliver Acadome.
 
Alabama State (8-13, 7-3 SWAC) got off to a slow start after committing 11 turnovers in the first quarter, trailing 14-9 at the end of one.  The Lady Hornets regained control in the second stanza (24-23) after a layup by Tatyana Calhoun with 2:06 left.  A three-pointer by Courtney Lee would give Alabama State a 30-25 lead heading into the break.
 
The Lady Hornets went on a 10-0 in the third, outscoring UAPB (4-13, 1-9 SWAC), 21-11, to lead 51-36 going into the fourth quarter. A layup by Jayla Crawford with 6:29 left extended the lead to 21, the largest lead en route to a Lady Hornet victory.
 
Emmanuel finished with 16 points and four rebounds, along with three assists and a pair of steals. Ward, who was 5-of-6 from the floor, registered 12 points and ten rebounds. Taylor Aikerson recorded a conference career-high nine points, shooting 6-of-8 from the charity stripe.

Shawntayla Harris paced Pine Bluff with 20 points, 12 rebounds, four blocks and two steals. Noe'll Taylor chipped in 10 points and three steals in the loss.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Alabama State shot 42.6 (23-of-54) percent from the floor, while shooting 38.5 (5-of-13) percent from beyond the arc and 73.3 (22-of-30) from the free throw line in the win.
 
Alabama State won the rebounding battle 50-32 and forced 23 Lady Lions turnovers.
 
UAPB finished with 20 points in the paint, 12 bench points and five second chance points.
 
The Lady Hornets finished with 26 points in the paint, 17 second chance points and 39 bench points.
 
UAPB forced 27 Lady Hornet turnovers that they converted into 23 points, while Alabama State scored 19 points off of Pine Bluff's mistakes.
 
QUOTES FROM HEAD COACH FREDA FREEMAN-JACKSON
On slow start: "Unfortunately, I had to take my point guards out of the game. Richardson gave my guards trouble and they seemed to be intimidated by her. Last time we played them, we committed 31 turnovers so we had to make adjustments so that wouldn't happen again."

On Ward: "We have to constantly remind her of how good and effective she can be if she raises her play and plays consistently. She gets tired and there's just a mental block we have to break through with her."

On Valley: "We have to continue to work with our guards because their guards are very aggressive and forced us into turnovers last time we played them. We have to get Areleatha Gipson going because her guard play is essential going forward."
  
NEXT UP
Alabama State will remain at home, hosting Mississippi Valley State on Monday night. Tip is set for 5:30 pm, with audio coverage being carried on the Hornets Sports Network.
 
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