PRAIRIE VIEW – In a down to the wire cat fight, Diana Rosenthal ignored the fact that she was playing with four fouls, taking control in overtime with back-to-back baskets that eventually lifted Prairie View A&M to a 55-52 Southwestern Athletic Conference win over Southern University Wednesday night in the William J. Nicks Building.

Southern pulled ahead early in the extra session, 52-49, on an and one, but Rosenthal put the Panthers on top, 53-52 with two back-to-back layups giving the Panthers the lead.  A big rebound by Desiree Lewis followed by a buzzer beater jumper by Jessica Soders with 58 seconds before the clock expired gave PVAMU a 55-52 lead.  On two unsuccessful tries by the Jags gave the Panthers their first conference win.  
 
Rosenthal led PV with 28 points, shooting 10-for-21 from the floor.  She also grabbed a team high eight rebounds.  Tamiracle Taylor added nine points and a season high seven rebounds.
 
Southern had two players in twin figures, paced by Genovea Johnson and Tyneisha Metcalf with 13 points apiece.  Johnson had eight rebounds, one assist and one steal. 
 
After shooting a whopping 53 percent in the third quarter and 50 percent in the fourth, the Panthers hit 3-for-7 in the overtime period.  Southern shot 75 percent in the fourth quarter and only managed 1-for-7 in the overtime.
 
PVAMU owned a 45-33 advantage in rebounds, while SU had the edge in turnovers, forcing 23 by PV and committing only 12.
 
The Jaguars used an 12-1 run leading the first quarter by as 14, ending the first quarter 19-6.  A three-pointer by Kennedy Paul opened the second frame as the Panthers continued chipping away at SU's deficit.  Two free throws at the end of the second, putting PVAMU within six, as Southern took a 25-19 lead into halftime.
 
PV opened the second half on a 13-2 run to take a 31-29 lead.  The contest continued to go-back-and-forth for the next four minutes, but PVAMU was able to hold on to a 37-29 lead going into the fourth quarter.  The game tied at 41-41 with 2:56 left in regulation.  A three-pointer by Rosenthal and a layup by Tamiracle Taylor regained a four-point edge with :21 seconds left to go in regulation.
 
Southern battled back to knot the game 49-49 on a three-point shot by Johnson leaving three seconds left to play.  A long range three-pointer by Rosenthal was unable to break the tie, pushing the game into overtime.
 
The Panthers will head on the road for their next action of play when they face the Mississippi Valley Devilettes and the Golden Lions of Arkansas Pine Bluff, Saturday, January 7 and Monday January 9.  Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. on Saturday.