PINE BLUFF, AR - The UAPB women's basketball team delivered its most resilient home performance of the season Saturday, storming back from an 11-point deficit late in the third quarter to defeat Alcorn State 64-60 inside H.O. Clemmons Arena. In the process, UAPB knocked off a team that entered the day tied for first place in the conference, continuing to prove it can compete with the league's best while building momentum at the right time.
The win also pushed UAPB's surge even further, extending its winning streak to three straight games overall and strengthening its grip on home court with a four-game winning streak inside H.O. Clemmons Arena. Trailing 47-36 with 4:00 remaining in the third, UAPB flipped the game with energy on both ends, turning defense into momentum and finishing with a decisive closing stretch to secure the comeback in front of the home crowd.
UAPB leaned on balanced production and big-time plays from its leaders, with three players scoring in double figures. Jailah Pelly paced the Golden Lions with 20 points, delivering timely shot-making during the comeback and helping ignite an 11-0 third-quarter run that changed the tone of the game. Indiya Bowen filled up the stat sheet with 15 points, four assists, and five steals, consistently creating offense while also leading the defensive pressure that forced mistakes. Jasmine Davis added 12 points and five assists, steadying UAPB offensively and helping keep the Golden Lions within striking distance before the rally fully took hold.
The comeback was fueled by UAPB's relentless work on the glass and disruptive defense. Led by Khaniah Gardner's five offensive rebounds, the Golden Lions dominated second-chance opportunities with 13 offensive boards that turned into 11 second-chance points, extending possessions and creating extra chances when UAPB needed them most. Defensively, UAPB forced 23 turnovers while committing only 13, turning takeaways into 13 points and repeatedly disrupting Alcorn State's rhythm. Bowen's five steals set the tone at the point of attack, and UAPB's activity level across the floor created the pressure that allowed the Golden Lions to chip away possession by possession.
After a difficult start that saw UAPB fall behind 24-10 at the end of the first quarter, the Golden Lions faced an uphill climb the rest of the way. The deficit stretched to 40-23 at halftime, but UAPB began to find its rhythm after intermission and methodically cut into the lead. The Golden Lions trimmed the margin to 47-31 before ripping off an 11-0 run punctuated by a Pelly three, pulling UAPB within 47-42 with 2:44 left in the third. UAPB kept the pressure on through the end of the quarter, closing the gap to 51-48 entering the fourth while knocking down four three-pointers in the third to score 12 of the team's 25 points in that period.
In the final quarter, UAPB stayed poised and continued applying pressure until the breakthrough came late. The Golden Lions pulled within 60-58, then closed the game with a 6-0 run to seize a 64-60 lead with three seconds remaining, completing the comeback and sealing the win. UAPB made the most of its opportunities in the paint down the stretch, scoring 10 of its 16 fourth-quarter points inside as the Golden Lions executed when it mattered most. With the victory, UAPB turned a 17-point halftime deficit and an 11-point third-quarter deficit into a statement win at home, adding another milestone to a stretch that now includes three straight wins overall and four consecutive victories inside H.O. Clemmons Arena.
