BOX SCORE PRAIRIE VIEW — The Prairie View A&M women's basketball team bounced back with a steady 61-51 Southwestern Athletic Conference win over the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff on Saturday in the Baby Dome.
 
"The second quarter was our best quarter," Assistant PVAMU Coach Sean LeBeauf said. "That created some separation. I think we became a little stagnant in the fourth quarter. We have to do a better job defensively. Defensively, we held them to 42 percent shooting, which isn't good enough if we're trying to win a championship. We need to hold them to 39 percent or less. We also did a better job of rebounding and closing out the possession, but there's still some improving to do."
 
With freshman Kennedy Paul dominating down low, the Panthers opened the game with seven unanswered points. The Lady Lions responded with a quick 7-2 run and cut the lead to two with 6:15 left in the first, but freshman Diana Rosenthal posted four of the team's final eight points of the quarter as the Panthers went into the second period up 16-12, and senior Bernesha Peters led Prairie View A&M on a 10-0 run to open a commanding advantage.

After UAPB cut the score to 28-17, a layup through traffic from senior Mariah Campbell brought the score back up to 30-17 but UAPB scored six unanswered points to draw within seven. However, The Panthers managed to capitalize on a bevy of UAPB turnovers -- Prairie View A&M scored 20 points off turnovers in the half -- particularly during the closing moments of the half as they went on an 8-0 run to end the period with a 38-23 lead. 
 
UAPB managed the upper hand to begin the third until a three-pointer from Peters stopped the Lady Lions' budding momentum. Following two UAPB free throws, another basket from Peters and a jumper from freshman Kennedi Heard extended the lead to 45-30. UAPB chipped away at the lead from the foul line, but senior Ke'Asia Williams led a 6-0 run down the stretch, sending the Panthers into the fourth up 52-37. 
 
The Panthers survived a cold snap where they went nearly seven minutes without a field goal, during which the Lady Lions managed to come within seven at 54-47. However, timely free throws fended off the UAPB comeback. 
 
Peters led the team with 13 points, three steals, two assists and one rebound. Williams also posted 13 points, along with four rebounds and one assist. Rosenthal also contributed with nine points on 5-of-6 free throw shooting, one steal, one assist and one rebound.

Next Up:
The Panthers will face Mississippi Valley State University on Monday. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. in the Baby Dome.