The Prairie View A&M Lady Panthers overcame a first-half deficit and outscored Alabama State by 13 points in the second half to pick up a much-needed 52-44 victory on Monday night in the Williams Nicks Building.
 
“It took a while to adjust to their physicality and their aggressiveness,” Prairie View A&M head coach Toyelle Wilson said. “I told the girls we were lucky to be down by just five points at half time, but I think we rode “Puff” tonight. Latia Williams really put the game on her shoulders.”
 
Williams scored a career-high 28 points and added seven rebounds, accounting for more than half of her team's total points. Williams was also responsible for 11 of her team's 18 converted field goals on the night.
 
With the win Prairie View A&M improved to 12-15 with a 9-7 record in the Southwestern  Athletic Conference. With the win and Jackson State's loss to Mississippi Valley on Monday, the Lady Panthers moved up to sixth place in the SWAC standings, a game behind Grambling State, who beat Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
 
After the victory Prairie View A&M coach Toyelle Wilson talked about the importance of her team stepping up as a whole offensively and not just relying on one player in the team's final two regular season games. Williams had a career night, but the rest of the team went 7-for-31 from the field.
 
Trailing Alabama State 28-21 with 18:07 left in the game, the Lady Panthers went on an 18-4 run that was capped off by a Williams' layup which gave her team a 39-32 lead with 11:35 left in the game. Williams accounted for 13 points in that seven-minute, game-changing run, and the Lady Panthers would not surrender their lead for the remainder of the game.
 
Prairie View A&M returns to action on Thursday night as they'll travel to Baton Rouge, La. for a meeting against Southern at 5:30 p.m. in the F.G. Clark Activity Center. On Saturday, the Lady Panthers will play Alcorn State at 2 p.m. in Alcorn State, Miss.