PINE BLUFF, Ark. | Alabama State held off a fierce, second half comeback by UAPB and hung on for a 68-65 victory in Southwestern Athletic Conference action Monday night at H.O. Clemmons Arena.

The Lady Hornets (7-15, 4-7 SWAC) took a big lead into the halftime break thanks to a hot-shooting second quarter where they outscored UAPB 25-9. The Lady Lions (4-17, 3-8 SWAC) did not go down without a fight, though, as they used a 28-point fourth quarter to cut it to within a possession several times.
 
In that second quarter, ASU knocked down nine of its 20 shot attempts including four three-point field goals. UAPB actually shot 41.1 percent in the game as compared to 38.9 percent by the Lady Hornets – both teams were 7-for-19 (36.8) from behind the arc.
 
Ayana Emmanuel hit several clutch shots down the stretch to help hold off the Lady Lions – including a runner in the paint with 17.7 seconds left and a pair of free throws with 8.8 left to essentially seal the game. Emmanuel led Alabama State scoring 17 points with four three-pointers made.
 
Freshman Hannah White continued her strong weekend with 13 points mostly coming from seven made free throws. Jayla Crawford scored in double figures for the ninth time in the last 10 games, finishing with 11 points on the night.
 
UAPB's Tyler Pyburn led all players with 19 points in the game, followed closely by teammate Trasity Totten who finished with 18.
 
Notable
- Jayla Crawford once again scored in double figures for ASU with 11 in the contest. Crawford has scored at least 10 points in nine of the Lady Hornets' last ten SWAC games.
 
- Partially overshadowed by the run Crawford has been on, Ayana Emmanuel has gone on a double-figure-scoring run of her own in SWAC play. With 17 points Monday, Emmanuel has scored in double digits in eight of the 11 conference games to this point.
 
- Alabama State led outright for 66:34 of the 80 minutes it played this weekend – 33:21 of the 40-minute game Monday after leading for 33:13 in Saturday's game at Mississippi Valley.
 
Up Next
The Lady Hornets will turn all its focus toward in-state rival Alabama A&M, as the two foes face off at the Dunn-Oliver Acadome Saturday. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m. with the men's game following shortly afterwards.

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