PRAIRIE VIEW, TX -- In a stunning display of basketball prowess, the Prairie View A&M Panthers decisively defeated the Wiley Wildcats on December 29, 2024, at the William Nicks Building in Prairie View, TX. The Panthers dominated the league game from start to finish, with a remarkable final score of 85-44. The Prairie View A&M women's basketball team kept Wiley to just 14.3 percent from deep in a 2-for-14 shooting performance for the win.
The Panthers (3-6) had five players score in double figures, led by Kaci Chairs, who had 21 points and five assists. Crystal Schultz tacked on 16 points from the bench and Ash'a Thompson chipped in as well with 14 points and three steals. The Prairie View A&M offense was strong from downtown, pouring in 11 threes on 26 attempts. Schultz hit four treys for the Panthers in the contest.
Prairie View A&M's defense held Wiley to only 14.3 percent shooting from beyond the arc and 28.9 percent from the field. The Wildcats did not have much luck cleaning up their misses on the offensive glass either, as they finished with six offensive rebounds and managed 13 second chance points while Prairie View A&M cleared 22 defensive rebounds.
How It Happened
The game kicked off with the Panthers quickly establishing a commanding lead, going into halftime with a formidable score of 46-11. The second half of the game saw no let-up in intensity from Prairie View A&M as they continued to extend their lead, showcasing a strong offensive and defensive performance.
After playing to an 8-8 tie early in the game, Prairie View A&M went on a 16-0 run with 2:55 left in the first quarter, culminating in a bucket from Nia Jordan, to take a 24-8 lead, a score that would hold for the rest of the period. Prairie View A&M capitalized on eight Wiley turnovers in the period, turning them into 11 points on the other end of the floor.
Prairie View A&M built that first quarter lead to 31-11 before going on a 15-0 run starting at the 6:47 mark in the second period, highlighted by a bucket from Ash'A Thompson, to increase its lead to 46-11, a score that would hold until halftime. Prairie View A&M was strong from deep in the period, knocking down three three-point shots to account for nine of its 22 points.
Following intermission, Prairie View A&M continued to expand its advantage, pushing it to 50-12 before going on a 6-0 run, punctuated by a three from Schultz, to expand its lead further to 56-12 with 7:58 to go in the third. Before the conclusion of the third period, the Wildcats had cut into that lead somewhat, but the Panthers still entered the fourth quarter with a 71-30 edge. Prairie View A&M knocked down five three-pointers in the quarter to score 15 of its 25 total points.
Prairie View A&M started tacking on points in the fourth almost immediately, going on an 8-0 run, finished off by CJ`Wilson's layup, to grow the lead to 79-30 with 6:20 to go in the contest. Kaci Chairs not only led in scoring but also contributed across the board with 4 rebounds, a steal, and 5 assists. Crystal Schultz and Ash'a Thompson were also notable for their all-around gameplay. The Wildcats narrowed the margin somewhat before the game was over, but the Panthers still cruised the rest of the way for the 85-44 win. Prairie View A&M took advantage of its opportunities in the post, scoring 12 of its 14 points in the paint.
Game Notes
» The Panthers shot well from three point range, knocking down 11 of 26 long range attempts.
» The Panthers held the Wildcats to only 28.9 percent shooting from the field.
» The Panthers never trailed after taking a 24-8 first quarter lead.
» Prairie View A&M recorded 18 total assists in the game.
» Prairie View A&M had a stellar day defensively, holding Wiley to 14 percent from beyond the arc on 14 attempts.
» The Prairie View A&M bench came alive by adding 28 points to its scoring output.
» Five Prairie View A&M players scored 10 or more points.
» Crystal Schultz and CJ Wilson came off the bench to score 16 and 10 points, respectively.
» Prairie View A&M had a 33-28 edge on the boards in the win.
» The Prairie View A&M defense forced 23 turnovers.
» Prairie View A&M cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 11 offensive boards in the game.
» Kaci Chairs led the Panthers with a game-high 21 points.
» Prairie View A&M got a team-high eight rebounds from CJ Wilson.
This victory over Wiley marks an important morale boost for Prairie View A&M as they currently hold a record of 3-6 in the season, with the conference games yet to begin. They look forward to carrying this winning momentum into their first SWAC game of the season against Southern University, scheduled to be held at the William J. Nicks 'Baby Dome' on January 2, 2025.
