Box Score

PINE BLUFF, Ark.- The Lady Lions of Arkansas-Pine Bluff dropped their closest contest of the year Saturday evening at H.O. Clemmons Arena, a 61-55 defeat at the hands of visiting Alabama A&M.

 “Both teams really started off sluggish,” Shelton said. “Like I told the (opposing) coaches at halftime break, 'It looks like both of us are just stuck in mud.' No energy, no intensity, no execution. We just couldn't make baskets. We need to put the basketball through the net.”

Freshman guard Taylor Sippial, who finished with seven points, knocked down a three-point shot to cap off Alabama A&M's opening 14-3 run midway through the first half. Junior guard Shundray Davis hit another three at the 3:22 mark to push the lead to 24-10, and the Lady Bulldogs never looked back as the gap didn't fall below four points again the rest of the way.

Junior guard Lakendra Marsh connected on four straight free throws and the last seven UAPB points to take the Lady Lions into halftime with a 24-14 deficit, but couldn't replicate her first-half performance. Marsh, who finished with 10 points, shot for a low percentage Saturday evening, going 2-of-9 from the floor and 1-of-4 from beyond the three-point line.

UAPB began their comeback bid in the second half, stepping in front of passes on defense and earning trips to the free throw line. The Lady Lions were clearly more aggressive attacking the hoop, as their free-throw efficiency jumped from 5-of-9 in the first half to 16-of-20 in the second. Okwumabua willed the Lady Lions back into the game with six consecutive free throws of her own and a lay-up to close the gap to 37-30.

However, Alabama A&M's Whiquitta Tobar closed the door on the game, leading the Lady Bulldogs with eight points in the last 10 minutes of the game and 19 points overall. The senior guard also finished with five assists and set up many other scoring plays throughout the game.
UAPB's next game is at 5:30 pm Monday against Alabama State at H.O. Clemmons Arena.