MONTGOMERY, Ala. | Jayla Crawford and Shmya Ward logged 23 points apiece to give Alabama State their fourth-straight victory in a 72-63 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Wednesday night inside the Acadome. 

THE BASICS 
Score: Alabama State -  72 | Mississippi Valley - 63
Records: Hornets 5-8 | Golden Lions 2-10 
Date: January 4, 2022 
Location: Montgomery, Ala. | Dunn Oliver Acadome 
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HOW IT HAPPENED 

• Cordasia Harris got the Hornets on the board first with a jumper at the 9:24 mark in the first.
• UAPB put together a 6-3 run to take a 6-5 advantage with just under eight minutes to play in the first frame.
• Ayana Emmanuel and Shmya Ward combined for four points to put the Lady Hornets back ahead, 9-6. 
• Ward finished with eight of ASU's 15 first-quarter points but the Golden Lions held a one-point advantage (16-15) heading into the second frame. 
• Alabama State reclaimed the lead under a minute into the second quarter on a made layup from Cordasia Harris (17-16). 
• Both teams traded baskets until they found themselves knotted at 21 apiece with 7:49 left until halftime.
• The Lady Hornets went on a 6-0 run to hold a six-point advantage just one minute later.
• The Golden Lions were able to pull back within one at the 3:41 mark in the second (29-28).
• Jayla Crawford and Dakiyah Sanders closed out the first half with a trio of made free throws to send the Lady Hornets into the locker room with a 39-36 advantage.
• Crawford scored ASU's first points of the second half as she drained a three-pointer to put her team ahead 42-38.
• Harris logged a score followed by Crawford's 20th point to put the Lady Hornets ahead 46-40 with 7:06 to play in the third quarter.
• The Golden Lions put together a 6-2 run to cut the deficit back to two points midway through quarter three 48-46. 
• The Lady Hornets responded with a 7-2 run to increase their advantage to 55-48 with just two minutes until the fourth quarter.
• Alabama State headed into the fourth frame with a 59-52 lead.
• Crawford had three points to start the fourth to give ASU a 64-56 advantage with 6:44 left in regulation. 
• ASU's lead mounted to nine points with 1:50 left to play (69-60).
• The Lady Hornets held on to win 72-63 behind 46 combined points from Crawford and Ward.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE 

• Alabama State shot 41.1 percent from the field, 25 percent, and 68.6 percent from the free throw line.
• Jayla Crawford and Shmya Ward each had a game-high 23 points. Ward also finished with nine rebounds.
• Cordasia Harris also chipped in 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the field and 4-of-6 from the charity stripe. Harris also grabbed eight rebounds in the win.
• Jayla Crawford was also ASU's top facilitator with three assists on the night. 
• Shmya Ward is now just 46 points from surpassing 1,000 career points.
• The Lady Hornets picked up 38 points in the paint and 15 points off turnovers.

NEXT UP
The Alabama State women's basketball team returns to action on Saturday, January 7, 2023, as they head to Jackson State at 3 p.m. in Jackson, Mississippi.