BOX SCORE PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas - The Prairie View A&M women's basketball team is rounding the final turn and heading down the stretch for the Southwestern Athletic Conference finish line as they kept pace with league-leader Southern, staying just one game out of tying for a share of the regular season title, with a 63-52 victory on Thursday night in the William J. Nicks "Baby Dome".
 
The Lady Panthers improved their conference log to 12-5 and 15-12 overall. Senior Erin Willis paced the team with 13 points, and six assists. Junior Dominique Newman followed with nine points and three rebounds, while Chelsea Tieuel and Jhyrah Cobb contributed with eight points apiece.
 
Willis got the Lady Panthers going as her made layup and foul shot contributed to the team's early 5-0 run. After the teams were tied at seven apiece, PV trailed until a layup by Newman brought the deficit down 11-9. Newman followed with a made three pointer that gave PVAMU a 14-13 lead with just a little more than two minutes remaining in the period. PVAMU went into the second quarter trailing 16-14.
 
A layup from senior Shala Dobbins gave Prairie View A&M their first points of the second quarter as they trailed 19-16. Three made free throws by Willis kept the team within reach at 21-19. A made jumper from senior guard Jordyn Penniman, followed by a layup from junior forward Ke'Asia Williams knotted the game at 23-all.
 
Two free throws from junior forward Mariah Campbell sent the teams into the half tied 25-25.
 
The Lady Panthers went scoreless in the opening minutes of the third quarter, before an 8-0 run was sparked by sophomore forward Jhyrah Cobb, allowing PVAMU to take a 33-28 lead, that they never relinquished. Two layups by senior center Artavia Ford extended the team's lead to 37-30 with under two minutes left to play in the quarter. A jumper from Williams, followed by two free throws from senior guard Chelsea Tieuel sent the team into the fourth quarter with a 41-32 lead.
 
Willis opened the fourth quarter with a quick layup that extended the team's lead to all most 10 points, before another Newman three-pointer allowed PVAMU to take a 46-35 lead over Southern. A jumper by forward senior La'Neique Nealey started a 6-2 run for the team giving them a 52-39 advantage. After a number of made free throws to close out the game, PVAMU eventually took the 63-52 win.
 
The Lady Panthers will return to the Baby Dome to play the last game of the regular season, against Alcorn State for senior night on Saturday, March 9 for a 3 p.m. tip off.