(Pictured: Lanikki McMillian [13] scored four points in her PVAMU debut, while Alexus Parker [3] tallied a double-double.)

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas – The Prairie View A&M Lady Panthers rolled to an 86-46 win over Howard Payne in the season-opener for both teams Friday afternoon.
 
Senior forward Larissa Scott pulled in a career-high 21 rebounds in addition to scoring 19 points to lead four Prairie View A&M players scoring in double figures.
 
UNC–Charlotte transfer Tori Carter came off the Prairie View A&M bench to score 20 points in her first official game as a Lady Panther; the junior guard shot 9-of-13 from the field. Alexus Parker recorded a double-double with totals of 15 points and 13 rebounds, while Lamaria Cole chipped in 14 points and six assists for the Lady Panthers.
 
Danyel Bradley and Sarahi Castillo scored 14 points and 13 points, respectively, for Howard Payne (0-1), an NCAA Division III member institution located in Brownwood, Texas.
 
The Lady Panthers outscored Howard Payne 22-3 over the last six minutes of the second quarter to pull away from their guests. Prairie View A&M finished the period with 13 unanswered points and outscored the Lady Jackets 26-7 for the period.
 
Though the Lady Panthers opened the game by shooting only 20 percent (3 of 15), by the second quarter, they had found their rhythm as they shot 11-of-23 from the floor (48 percent), and held the Lady Jackets to 3-of-17 shooting during the second 10 minutes.
 
"It took us a little while to get into the rhythm," head coach Dawn Brown said. "I told the team that if they can commit to defense, then it would spark our offense, and it did late in the second quarter and in the third quarter."
 
La'Sha Haynes pulled in 10 rebounds for Prairie View A&M. Teammate Jeronia Allen grabbed nine rebounds in addition to scoring eight points.
 
The Lady Panthers return to action Tuesday when they visit Nicholls State in Thibodeaux, La. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.


 
QUOTE of the GAME
"I knew this game would be a big game for her because I didn't think they were going to match up well with her. She even checked herself into the game in the fourth, and I couldn't be upset with her about it because she wanted to get every ball that came off that rim. I'm excited to have her back and I look forward to going through the season with her."
– Head coach Dawn Brown on Larissa Scott's performance. Scott, who was granted a medical redshirt after playing in only five games last year, pulled 14 of her 21 rebounds off the offensive glass, and also recorded four blocks, three steals, and three assists.

 

GAME NOTES

QUOTES
Prairie View A&M head coach Dawn Brown
On early shooting woes and focusing on defense:
I take some responsibility for that because we didn't focus on offense this week. We wanted to focus on defense. We didn't take the normal shots we take in practice every day, we didn't have a shootaround this morning. We wanted to rest the young ladies because of the noon start time
 
On the roles of her reserves:
We've got to find our roles and get our freshmen involved. They're going to be key to us going into conference. We've got to get Bena McCoy and Ereyanna Magee into a rhythm offensively, and then we want to see more production from players like La'Sha Haynes, Monique Abbs, and Chelsey Rosier. We're going to have to go back and watch some more film and do some one-on-one teaching with them so we get them in a rhythm so they can be effective for us.


 
TWEET of the GAME

Lady Panthers open regular season with an 86-46 win over Howard Payne! pic.twitter.com/YLoF3kDOoq

— PVAMU Panthers (@PVAMUPanthers) November 13, 2015