PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas – The Prairie View A&M women's basketball team won convincing in its home opener with a 99-56 win over the UT-Tyler Patriots at the William J. Nicks Building Friday night.
 
PVAMU shot 60 percent from the field and held the Patriots to 32 percent shooting, and the Lady Panthers owned a 45-35 advantage in rebounds.  The PVAMU defense also forced 27 turnovers by the visitors.
 
"One of our goals this year is to make some defensive stops and ball pressure," said head women's basketball coach Ravon Justice. "We had to protect the three-point line and the girls did a great job of it (UT-Tyler 2-20).  We actually did our job there, and kept the tempo of the game.  We just have to get better at rebounding. We gave up too many offensive rebounds."
 
A close contest for the first three minutes, the Lady Panthers caught fire with Shala Dobbins making back-to-back baskets including a 3-pointer, allowing the teams to tie twice with the last at 11-all.  Prairie View A&M took control of the first quarter scoring 11 unanswered points and never looking back.  They continued their run posting a 20-point lead  midway thru the second quarter before taking a 50 27 halftime lead into the locker room.
 
Four Lady Panthers netted double figures.  Sophomore Dominique Newman scored a career and game-high 24 points, along with nine rebounds and six assists. In their debut as Lady Panthers, transfers Jordyn Penniman added 21 points and Dobbins put 19 points. Senior Alexis Robinson had eight rebounds with 10 points in her return back to the court.
 
"These ladies put in a lot of extra work," said Justice on the play of her guards and forwards".  "The good thing about these ladies is they are an unselfish basketball team.  Our kids did exactly what we wanted them to when we needed them to, with the exception of getting more balls into the post and offensive rebounding."
 
Prairie View A&M's lead grew to 38 in the final three minutes before winding up at the final 43-point difference.
 
The Lady Panthers will return to action next Tuesday as they host Arlington Baptist for a 6 p.m. tip.  Fans can watch live at pvpanthers.com/sportsnetwork or get live stats on pvpanthers.com.