The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff women's basketball team fell short to McNeese State on Tuesday night by a score of 65-60.

The Lady Lions had three players in double figures tonight, led by Khadijah Brown who had 25 points and 13 rebounds. Joyce Kennerson score 13 points while shooting sixty percent from beyond the arc and Sade Hudson chipped in with 11 points.

UAPB crashed the glass offensively, outrebounding McNeese 18-11. Brown had 11 offensive rebounds to lead the Lady Lions.

The Lady Lions traded baskets with McNeese throughout the first half and trailed 34-31 at halftime.

Early in the third quarter, McNeese sparked a 10-0 that stretched their lead to 44-31. The 13-point deficit was the largest lead of the game, but the Lady Lions were able to cut the lead down to 52-44 at the end of the third quarter.

UAPB started the fourth quarter on an 8-2 run. Sade Hudson scored seven of those points to help the Lady Lions cut McNeese's lead to 54-52 with a little over five minutes left in the contest.

A few buckets by Kennerson and Takayla Busby kept the Lady Lions close down the stretch, but the comeback fell just short.

"I saw a lot of great things from us tonight," said head coach Dawn Thornton following the season opener. "There were small mistakes we made that we have to get better at. McNeese executed their game plan and made shots when they counted. We have some big-time scorers that have to make big-time plays."

The Lady Lions return to action Friday at noon as they travel to Fayetteville to face in-state rival Arkansas.

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