BOX SCORE

The Lady Panthers hit one clutch shot after another to complete a comeback and defeat Arkansas-Pine Bluff 62-59 on Monday night in the Williams Nicks Building. 

Prairie View A&M trailed by seven points at 57-50 with five minutes remaining in the game until senior forward Latia Williams sparked a 12-2 run to close out the game. She scored six of her 12 points during that span and also picked up an assist. 

Williams found redshirt freshman guard Gabrielle Scott for a corner three with 1:10 remaining to give Prairie View A&M a 58-57 lead. Arkansas-Pine Bluff responded with an Asia Rhines-Malone layup off of a perfectly-executed inbounds play to retake the lead at 59-58 with 44 seconds remaining. 

With the game on the line and facing pressure from the defense, sophomore guard Jeanette Jackson kept her composure and delivered a pass to Williams, who put in the layup with 28 seconds left in the game. Jackson then followed up the sweet dish with a steal after forcing UAPB's Chigoziany Okwumabua into a turnover. She was fouled and converted the two free throws at the line to seal the deal with a 62-59 lead and final score.

Jackson, who entered the game averaging 14.3 points over her last three contests, came through with a game-high 15 points and added a game-high five steals with just two turnovers in 34 minutes of play. She was one of four Lady Panthers to score in double figures on Monday night. Williams had 12 points, three assists and was one rebound shy of a double-double. Senior guard Kiara Etienne had 13 points and two steals, while Scott provided 10 points on 2-for-3 shooting from three-point range for Prairie View A&M.

The Lady Panthers trailed 26-22 at halftime as they struggled from the field, shooting 32 percent from the floor and 16.7 percent from downtown. The offensive efficiency kicked in during the second period as the Lady Panthers found their stroke. Prairie View A&M hit 50 percent of its shots in the second half, including 3-of-4 shots from three-point range.

Prairie View A&M improved to 7-7 in the SWAC standings with the win but remained in sixth place behind Jackson State. The Lady Panthers hit the road on Saturday to face Alabama State, a team that also sits at 7-7 in the SWAC.