It was a game of runs in Saturday matchup between the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff women's basketball team and Grambling St. Tigers Saturday at the H.O. Clemmons Arena. The Lady Lions outlasted the Lady Tigers 84-79 in conference play. 

The Lady Lions had four players score in double figures, led by Noe'll Taylor, who had 20 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and four steals. Jayla Atmore tacked on 19 points, six rebounds, and two steals, followed by followed by Trasity Totten with 10 points, and Tyler Pyburn added 16 points from the bench.

After falling behind 9-6, UAPB went on a 6-0 run with 7:56 left in the first quarter, culminating in a bucket from Atmore, to take a 12-9 lead. The Lady Lions then maintained that lead and entered the quarter break with a 22-19 advantage. UAPB did most of its first-quarter damage in the paint, scoring 12 of its 22 points close to the basket.

UAPB built that first-quarter lead to 32-26 before going on a 5-0 run starting at the 3:02 mark in the second period to increase its lead to 37-26. The Tigers cut into that lead, but the Lady Lions still enjoyed a 37-27 advantage heading into halftime. UAPB was strong from deep in the period, knocking down two three-point shots to account for six of its 15 points.

After being down in the start of the fourth quarter, UAPB narrowed its deficit to 67-65 before going on a 10-0 run, finished off by Pyburn's three, to seize a 75-67 lead with 3:05 to go in the contest.

The Tigers went on a rally, but the Lady Lions held on to seal the win at home.

"We had our mindset that this was the championship game," said first-year UAPB head coach Dawn Brown. "We knew going in that we matched up well with Grambling on paper.  I'm so proud of Pyburn's performance on the court tonight along with the rest of the players. We have been talking about fighting for focus all week in practice, and we can out ready to play." 

The Lady Lions will be back in action Monday for Academic Night against Jackson St. at 5:30 p.m. The UAPB Sports Network will have a live radio broadcast starting at 5:15 p.m. on 99.3 FM The Beat, online at uapblionsroar.com, and on the free UAPB Athletics App.

 

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