Prairie View A&M couldn't overcome a late Southern run and missed opportunities in a close 60-55 loss in Baton Rouge, La. on Friday night in a game that went down to the wire. Despite a career-high 14 points by LaReahn Washngton and a double-double of 12 points and 16 rebounds by senior forward Latia Williams, Prairie View A&M dropped to 1-1 in the SWAC.

The Lady Panthers trailed 57-52 after sophomore point guard Jeanette Jackson drained a three with 3:01 left in the game to pull Prairie View A&M to within five. But from that point the Lady Panthers went 1-for-4 from the field and 1-for-4 from the foul line as Southern closed out the game. With the loss, the Lady Panthers league-leading streak of seven-consecutive wins against SWAC opponents ended.

“We just didn't make plays late defensively or offensively,” Prairie View A&M coach Toyelle Wilson said. “You can't win a game when you have three starters go 2-for-15...We had two people show up for the game, and we didn't make smart plays at the end of the game.”

The Lady Panthers started the second half out on an 8-0 run and tied the game with 14 minutes left on a Latia Williams' layup with 14 minutes left. However, Southern countered with an 8-0 run of its own and took a 47-39 lead on a Kendra Coleman jumper with 8:26 left. Prairie View A&M would not recover from that run.

Prairie View A&M got off to a slow start in the first half, but thanks to a gritty performance by Washington off the bench the Lady Panthers were able to stay within striking distance of Southern.

“She came in and helped us in the game with her first half defense and attacking-the-rim on offense,” Wilson said. “She's a hard-nosed player and is going to do whatever it takes to contribute and help the team be successful.”

Washington came through with 10 first half points and three steals. She ended the game with a career-high 14 points and six rebounds. Latia Williams had 11 rebounds and four points at the half. Prairie View A&M trailed by as much as 14 points in the first half, but the Lady Panthers closed the half out by outscoring Southern 15-8 over the final seven minutes of the first half. Redshirt freshman guard Gabrielle Scott drained a three at the buzzer to cut her team's deficit to 38-31 heading into the break. 

Prairie View A&M will try to bounce back with a with a win against Texas Southern in the first game of the rivalry series at 5 p.m. Sunday in the William Nicks Building.