PRAIRIE VIEW, TX -- Prairie View A&M secured a commanding victory over Texas College at the William Nicks Building in Prairie View, Texas, on Thursday. The Prairie View Panthers showcased their prowess in their season opener by beating Texas College with a final score of 105-71.
In an impressive display of basketball, the Panthers had three players score in double figures, led by Crystal Schultz, who had 26 points, five assists and three steals. Cj Wilson added 21 points from the bench and Amauri Williams helped out with 16 points from the bench.Schultz,Wilson, and Williams were top scorers, collectively driving the Panthers to their win. Schultz not only led the scoring with 26 points but was also instrumental in a pivotal moment in the fourth quarter. She netted a series of points including a crucial 3-pointer, which significantly extended the lead for Prairie View, ensuring there was no coming back for Texas College.
Additionally, Wilson contributed 21 points, 1 rebound, and 1 steal, while Williams added 16 points and shone with her defensive plays including 2 blocks. Other notable performances included Jelissa Reese, who played a versatile game, accumulating 8 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals, and 4 assists. The Prairie View A&M women's basketball team shot 52.6 percent from beyond the arc. Prairie View A&M did a great job crashing the offensive glass, pulling down 13 boards that resulted in 19 second chance points.
With a halftime lead of 43-34, Prairie View A&M never looked back, widening the gap and securing their spot as a strong contender in the league early in the season. The Panthers are now gearing up to face Jarvis Christian at home on November 13, hoping to continue their winning streak with their current record sitting at 1-0. As the season progresses, Prairie View A&M seeks to maintain this momentum and aim for a top spot in the league standings.
Prairie View A&M did a great job disrupting Texas College shots in the contest, coming away with five blocks. Williams led the way individually for the Panthers with one rejection.
How It Happened
After falling behind 8-2, Prairie View A&M went on a 10-0 run with 5:35 left in the first quarter, culminating in a bucket from Wilson, to take a 12-8 lead. The Panthers then added two points to that lead by the end of the period and entered the quarter break with a 24-18 advantage. Prairie View A&M relied on its three-point shooting in the period, knocking down four shots to account for 12 of its 24 points.
Prairie View A&M kept its first quarter lead intact before going on a 7-0 run starting at the 9:13 mark in the second period, highlighted by a bucket from Nyam Thornton, to increase its lead to 31-18. The Steers cut into that lead, but the Panthers still enjoyed a 43-34 advantage heading into halftime. Prairie View A&M dominated in the paint, scoring 14 of its 19 points close to the basket.
Prairie View A&M continued to preserve its halftime lead before going on an 8-0 run, punctuated by a basket from Wilson, to expand its lead further to 55-39 with 7:58 to go in the third. Before the conclusion of the third period, the Steers had cut into that lead somewhat, but the Panthers still entered the fourth quarter with a 73-58 edge. Prairie View A&M played well near the basket, scoring 16 of its 30 points in the paint.
Prairie View A&M started tacking on points in the fourth almost immediately, going on a 6-0 run, finished off by Mikayla Hutchinson's three, to grow the lead to 79-58 with 9:02 to go in the contest. The Panthers kept expanding the margin and coasted the rest of the way for the 105-71 win. Prairie View A&M took advantage of five Texas College turnovers in the quarter, scoring 10 points off of those takeaways.
Game Notes
» The Panthers made over half of their attempts from three point range, knocking down 10 of 19 shots.
» The Panthers never trailed after taking a 24-18 first quarter lead.
» Prairie View A&M recorded 22 total assists in the game.
» The Prairie View A&M bench came alive by scoring 77 points to its scoring output.
» Crystal Schultz and Cj Wilson came off the bench to score 26 and 21 points, respectively.
» The Panthers turned 29 turnovers into 34 points on the offensive end.
» The Panthers forced 29 Texas College turnovers while committing only 16 on the other end.
» Prairie View A&M had a 34-30 edge on the boards in the win.
» The Prairie View A&M defense forced 29 turnovers.
» The Panthers were active in affecting shots on the defensive end, recording five blocks as a team.
» Prairie View A&M cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 13 offensive boards in the game.
» Crystal Schultz had a game-high 26 points and Cj Wilson added 21.
» Prairie View A&M got a game-high six rebounds from Jelissa Reese.
