The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff women's and men's basketball teams will host Alabama A&M for Cancer Awareness Night in game three of their four-game homestand Saturday night at the H.O. Clemmons Arena.
Saturday, the doubleheader begins at 5 p.m. with the women's game, who's playing for Women Play 4 Kay followed by the men's game, who's playing for Coaches vs. Cancer at 7:30 p.m. The UAPB Sports Network will have the live broadcast starting at 4:30 p.m. with Lions Roar Pregame on 99.3 FM The Beat, online at uaplionsroar.com, and on the free UAPB Athletics app.
Both teams are looking to bounce back as they start the second half of the season.
UAPB will look for revenge against Alabama A&M after being defeated in Huntsville, Alabama, 74-55 earlier in the year. The Lady Bulldogs (9-11 overall, 5-4 SWAC) are coming off a big win at home defeating Prairie View, 54-44.
The Lady Bulldogs are led by Dariauna Lewis, who leads the team in scoring averaging 16.9 ppg and rebounds, averaging 9.6 rpg.
The Lady Lions (4-15 overall, 3-6 SWAC) dropped a home match to the conference leader Jackson St. on Monday, 56-44. Junior Jayla Atmore led UAPB with 12 points and five steals, followed by Kyeonia Harris with nine points, and senior Noe'll Taylor added seven points.
"We played Alabama A&M earlier this year at their place, and they outworked us in the fourth quarter," said first-year UAPB head coach Dawn Brown. "We didn't knock down shots, and we have to do a better job of keeping our opponents off the free-throw line. If we're able to stick to the game plan, then we'll keep the game at reach, and we'll be successful at the end of the night."
The Lady Lions have two guards ranked in the top 15 in points per game. Harris ranks 10th in the conference in scoring, averaging 11.2 ppg and Atmore ranks 14th, and averaging 10.5 ppg. Harris also ranks fourth in the conference in assists, averaging 3.1 apg.
On the defensive side UAPB ranks third in the conference in steals, averaging 10.1 spg. Taylor ranks third in the conference in steals, averaging 2.4 spg, followed by Atmore, who ranks seventh, averaging 2.2 spg, and Harris tied for ninth, averaging 2.1 spg. Freshman Nissa-Sam Grant ranks third in the conference in blocks per game, averaging 1.6 bpg., and tied for eighth in the conference in rebounds, averaging 2.1 rpg.
On the men's side, UAPB looks to take on Alabama A&M in the second half of the conference showdown after losing to the Bulldogs 59-49 on the road earlier this year.
Alabama A&M comes into the contest on a six-game losing streak, dropping a home game to Prairie View 69-54. The Bulldogs are led by Cameron Alford, who leads the team in scoring, averaging 14.0 ppg, and rebounds, averaging 5.1 rpg.
The Golden Lions (3-18 overall, 2-7 SWAC) are coming off a nail-biter loss at home to Jackson St., 49-45 last Monday. Juniors Markedric Bell and Dequan Morris both scored 10 points in the game versus Jackson St.
"We played the Bulldogs earlier this year, and we missed a lot of free throws and easy shots," said UAPB head coach George Ivory. "We have to be patient and don't be in a big hurry to make plays when we got the lead. We just got to allow the game to come to us."
UAPB's defense, which is tied for first in the conference giving up 69.0 ppg., held Jackson St. to its lowest total points this season. Junior Marquell Carter ranks 10th in the conference in rebounds, averaging 5.9 rpg. Morris ranks second in the conference in steals, averaging 1.7 spg.
The Golden Lions have three players ranked in the top 15 in blocks per game. Bell leads the way, averaging 1.7 bpg., followed by junior Terrance Banyard in sixth, averaging 0.9 bpg., and junior Artavious McDyess tied for 12th, averaging 0.6 bpg.
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