Box Score GRAMBLING, La. - Arkansas-Pine Bluff got off to a slow start and trailed by 11 points in the first quarter and eventually fell to Grambling State University 73-63 at the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center in Southwestern Athletic Conference play. The Lady Lions made a second half surge and outscored Grambling by six in the second half but it wasn't enough as UAPB fell to 4-11 in conference competition. UAPB is still mathematically in the fight for a trip to the 2018 SWAC Women's Basketball Tournament. The top eight teams land a spot in the tourney, and the Lady Lions are currently in ninth place with two games remaining in the regular season.

The Lady Lions (6-19, 4-11 SWAC) produced three scorers in double figures and was led by sharp shooter Malaik Muhammad who produced a team-high 15 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the field including three 3-pointers and five rebounds while fellow Lady Lion Faith Ohanta finished with a double-double and scored 13 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to go along with one block and one assist. Teammate and point guard Destiny Brewton had 13 points, seven assists, two rebounds and one steal.

As a team UAPB shot 44 percent from the field (22-of-50) while its opponent shot 48 percent (27-of-56). Both teams nearly shot identical from the free throw line with the Lady Lions at 65 percent (13-of-20) and the Lady Tigers at 67 percent (12-of-18).

The Lady Lions won the rebound battle 33-30 but turned the ball over 20 times compared to 14 for Grambling, who improved to 10-4 in SWAC play. The Lady Tigers scored a total of 23 points off of those UAPB turnovers, however; UAPB's bench outscored Grambling 18-10 and produced a total of 26 points in the paint but gave up 34 points in the paint to Grambling.

Grambling (13-12, 10-4 SWAC) guard Shakyla Hill was a stat-stuffer as she led her team with a game-high 22 points, 11 assists, nine rebounds, eight turnovers and seven steals in the win.

UAPB returns to action on Monday, February 26 as it travels to Mississippi to face Jackson State University for its final road game of the regular season. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. On January 29, Jackson State defeated UAPB 60-54 at H.O. Clemmons Arena.