Box Score (Baton Rouge, LA.) – Facing an uphill climb, the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff (UAPB) women's basketball team (3-19, 2-10 SWAC) failed to find its groove in the second half Saturday afternoon on the road against Southern University Lady Jaguars (11-1, 14-6 SWAC) to fall 77-68.

With the score knotted up early in the opening half, Carlisha Walker was fouled on a three point play, sending her to the line to give the Lady Lions a 15-13 lead with 7:43 in the first half. As a result, head coach Sandy Pugh call led a 30-second timeout to settle her team down.

Unfortunately for UAPB, the Lady Jaguars continued their strong push throughout the stanza to put the Lady Lions away but they kept fighting back exchanging buckets after buckets, before Southern Kendra Coleman connected on a three pointer at the buzzer to give their team the lead 31-28 led into the locker room.

The Lady Lions held the top seed Lady Jaguars on their heel in the first half, going toe for toe, forcing them to shoot a season low 29.7 % for the season.

After a tough first half against the Lady Lions, the Jaguars shot better in the half 57.7 percent (15-of-26) from the field, as Kendra Coleman 21 points (6-of-9) to lead the way. From beyond the arc, the Lady Jaguars drained 3-of-9 (33.3), spearheaded by guard Kendra Coleman 3-for-8. On the glass, the Lady Lions managed 42 rebounds, compared to Southern 38.

For UAPB, had four players scored in double figured, guard Cassidy Wright and Carlisha Walker both scored 12 points apiece, followed by Destiny Ham with 11 points and Jazyme Victorian with a double-double 10 points and 11 rebounds.

In the second half, UAPB failed to generate enough energy on the offensive end after intermission, while the Jaguars took their largest lead of the game, 55-40, after a Brittany Washington jumper at the 11:19 mark.

The rest of the way, UAPB cut the lead to single digit, but that was not enough for the comeback as the Lady Jaguars held on for the big win.

When the final buzzer sounded, three Lady Jaguars scored in double figures, led by guard Kendra Coleman game-high 21 points. Brittany Washington finished with 20 and Adrian Sanders followed with 11 points.

Collectively, the Lady Lions shot 41.3 percent (26-of-63) from the field and went 3-of-9 (33.3) from long distance. The Lady Lions shot just about even with the Lady Jaguars throughout the game, but the difference maker of the game is Southern outscoring UAPB 22-5 on points off turnovers.

Coming up, the Lady Lions will look for revenge on the road against Alcorn St. Monday night Feb. 17, 5:30 pm in Lorman, MS.