BOX SCORE HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Sophomore Shamiya Brooks posted her third career double-double along with five blocks as the red hot Prairie View A&M Lady Panthers closed out the first half of SWAC play with a tough 68-60 road win over Alabama A&M on Monday evening inside Elmore Gymnasium.
Although AAMU entered Monday's game in last place, Lady Panther head coach Dawn Brown said during pregame that AAMU is better than its record and the Bulldogs lived up to that billing. AAMU claimed an early 8-7 advantage until a 12-2 run by the Lady Panthers turned the game in their favor led by LaReahn Washington's five points with 10:18 remaining.
Alabama A&M twin sister duo Alyssa and Brittney Strickland willed them back into the contest as they cut PVAMU's lead to 21-19 four minutes later. With the Bulldogs nibbling on their ankles, the Lady Panthers found themselves in a dogfight from that point as AAMU knotted the contest at 27-all with 51 seconds remaining. A layup by Brooks moved PVAMU back on top 29-27 at the 36-second mark but the lead was brief as AAMU secured two offensive rebounds on its final possession and tied the game at 36-all following Alasha Foster's layup with two seconds remaining.
Brooks and Washington scored the first points of the second half for the Lady Panthers as they claimed an early 32-29 lead. AAMU's Jasmine Sanders closed the gap to 32-31 but redshirt sophomore Gabrielle Scott nailed a timely three-pointer for a two-possession lead at 35-31 with 17:52 left. A jumper by Alabama A&M's Alyssa Strickland kept them within striking distance (35-33) until PVAMU's version of the twin towers in Brooks and Asha Hampton-Finch went to work with four consecutive points for a 39-33 lead with 15:58 remaining.
Alabama A&M would not go away as they continued to hang around and push the Lady Panthers to the limit. With PVAMU ahead 50-48 with 9:17 left, Washington scored the next four points for the Lady Panthers coupled with an Alexus Parker layup off a Hampton-Finch steal for the 56-48 margin.
Prairie View A&M had a three-minute scoring drought after the run and AAMU found a way to sneak back in after baskets from Strickland and Sanders. With 4:41 left, Washington stepped to the free throw line and hit 1-of-2 for a 57-53 lead. Despite their offensive struggles, Prairie View A&M played well on the defensive end as AAMU went scoreless over the next two minutes. At the 2:30 mark, Jeanette Jackson nailed a much-needed and momentum-changing three-pointer for a seven-point advantage. AAMU hit a basket to close within 60-55 but Brooks hit a basket off a Gabrielle Scott assist to keep a seven-point advantage.
AAMU would close to four points on two occasions over the final 31 seconds but PVAMU was money from the free throw line as Hampton-Finch and Jackson each hit a pair of free throws to seal PVAMU's third straight win over Alabama A&M and second straight win in Elmore Gymnasium.
Brooks had a career night with 19 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks for the second time this season. Jackson followed with 18 points and seven assists followed by 15 points and three steals from Washington.
The second round of SWAC play begins on Saturday evening as the Lady Panthers host Texas Southern in a highly-anticipated conference showdown in the Baby Dome at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale on-line via the PV Marketplace.
