COLLEGE PARK, Ga. | Alabama State used a strong fourth-quarter surge and balanced scoring to punch its ticket to the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Women's Basketball Tournament championship game with a 72–59 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Friday at Gateway Center Arena.
With the victory, the Hornets advance to the SWAC title game for the first time since 2022 and wiill play defending champion Southern University on Saturday at Noon Central on ESPNU.
Alabama State placed three players in double figures and controlled the tempo in the final period to pull away from the Lady Lions after a tightly contested battle through three quarters.
The Hornets opened the game with an aggressive defensive effort that translated into early offense. After a block and rebound from Clearia Peterson on Arkansas-Pine Bluff's opening possession, Ny'Keria Flowers scored in transition to give Alabama State the early lead. Moments later, Caylee Simpson converted a layup off a turnover to extend the advantage as the Hornets jumped out to a 4–0 start.
Alabama State continued to dictate the pace in the first quarter, shooting 50 percent from the field and taking a 22–13 lead after the opening 10 minutes.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff responded in the second quarter with a 20–12 period to cut the Hornets' lead to just one point at halftime, 34–33.
The Lady Lions briefly grabbed momentum late in the third quarter and tied the game early in the fourth, setting up a decisive final stretch.
With the score tied 49–49 early in the fourth, Alanah Pooler drove to the basket for a layup to reclaim the lead for Alabama State. Shamya Reid followed with a pair of fast-break free throws to push the margin to three.
Moments later, Charlese McClendon converted a second-chance put back before Flowers finished a fast-break opportunity to extend the Hornets' advantage to 57–52 midway through the quarter.
Alabama State closed the game on a decisive run, outscoring Arkansas-Pine Bluff 23–12 in the fourth quarter to secure the double-digit victory.
Flowers led the Hornets with 14 points, while Pooler added 13 points and Simpson chipped in 12 points to pace Alabama State's balanced attack.
As a team, Alabama State shot 25-of-56 (44.6 percent) from the field and 18-of-22 (81.8 percent) from the free-throw line. The Hornets also controlled the interior, scoring 36 points in the paint and producing 14 fast-break points.
Alabama State also received key contributions off the bench, which combined for 31 points, helping the Hornets maintain offensive pressure throughout the game.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff finished the contest shooting 32 percent from the field as the Hornets' defense limited the Lady Lions' scoring opportunities down the stretch.
With the win, Alabama State improves to 17–14 on the season and advances to the SWAC Women's Basketball Tournament Championship game, where the Hornets will look to capture the conference title and secure an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.
