MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff women's basketball team got off to the kind of start that it was hoping for Saturday against Alabama State, but the Lady Lions couldn't sustain it.

The Lady Hornets outscored UAPB 52-28 over the second and third quarters to run away with a 73-52 victory in Southwestern Athletic Conference play at the Dunn-Oliver Acadome.

Freshman forwards Ayana Emmanuel and Shmya Ward scored 16 and 12 points, respectively, for Alabama State (8-13, 7-3), which turned the ball over 11 times in the first quarter and trailed by seven points midway through the second before getting things going.

Senior center Shawntayla Harris, who had just nine points and three rebounds in a 58-56 overtime loss to Alabama State earlier this season, finished with 20 points and 12 rebounds for UAPB (4-13, 1-9), for her third double-double of the season.  Junior guard Noe'll Taylor ended the game with 10. 

Things were working well for UAPB for the majority of the first half, but a four-minute stretch to end the second quarter cost them. The Lady Lions held a 23-16 lead until senior center Tatyana Calhoun nailed a jumper to start a 14-2, quarter-ending run for the Lady Hornets that gave them a 30-25 lead at halftime.

UAPB inched closer in the third quarter and got as close as 37-35 after a basket from Taylor with 4:36 showing, but Alabama State scored 14 of the final 15 points in the period to build a 51-36 advantage.  

The Lady Lions, who shot just 21.4 percent (3 of 14) in the third, weren't able to make up much ground in the fourth quarter and subsequently dropped their fifth consecutive league game.

The Lady Lions are back at it Monday for a road showdown at Alabama A&M before making their return home to the H.O. Clemmons Arena to battle Southern on Saturday.

FAST BREAK

•    Harris' 20 points were a season-high for her in conference play.  She added a team-high four blocks.

•    Sophomore guard Trasity Totten chipped in nine points for UAPB.

•    Alabama State has won five consecutive SWAC home games since losing to Grambling State on Jan. 5.

•    After committing 11 turnovers in the opening quarter, the Lady Hornets had just 16 the rest of the game.

•    UAPB attempted just 12 free throws while Alabama State made 22.

•    Ward had 10 rebounds for the Lady Hornets.