ITTA BENA, MS --  The Prairie View A&M women's basketball team got a 19-point showing from the bench, falling to the Mississippi Val. Devilettes at Harrison HPER Complex in Itta Bena, MS on Saturday evening. The Panthers, despite fighting hard, fell to the Devilettes with a final score of 69-52.

The game began with the Panthers trailing by 8 points at halftime, scoring 27 against the Devilettes' 35. Efforts to rally in the second half were overshadowed by Mississippi Val.'s robust defense and sharpshooting. CJ Wilson was the standout for Prairie View A&M, leading with 14 points and pulling down six rebounds.  Ash'a Thompson also contributed significantly with 10 points and securing five rebounds and five steals, showcasing her all-around gameplay.

Wilson pulled down four offensive rebounds to pace an offense that racked up second chance opportunities for Prairie View A&M, grabbing 14 boards and turning them into 14 second chance points.

The Prairie View A&M defense was effective at taking away the basketball in Saturday's game, forcing 19 Mississippi Valley State turnovers. Those takeaways turned into 17 points on the offensive end of the floor. Thompson's five steals led the way individually for the Panthers.

Further statistics for the Panthers included contributions from Thornton Nyam and Schultz Crystal, who added six and eight points respectively. Despite the loss, the Panthers displayed commendable tenacity and teamwork. 

Looking forward, the Panthers aim to regroup and focus on their upcoming game against UAPB in Pine Bluff, Ark., on January 13, 2025. They will capitalize on lessons from this game to enhance their strategies and execution.

How It Happened

After falling behind 13-0, Prairie View A&M went on a 10-0 run with 6:34 left in the first quarter, culminating in a bucket from Crystal Schultz, to narrow its deficit to 13-10. Mississippi Valley State answered back and added to its lead, leaving the Panthers down 22-15 entering the second quarter.

The Panthers continued to lose ground in the second quarter and faced a 35-27 halftime deficit.

After intermission, Prairie View A&M cut its deficit to 48-41 before going on a 6-0 run, punctuated by a basket from Nyam Thornton, to trim its deficit to 48-47 with eight seconds to go in the third. Mississippi Valley State countered and stretched its lead to 50-47 heading into the fourth. Prairie View A&M played well near the basket, scoring 10 of its 20 points in the paint.

Prairie View A&M could not pull any closer in the fourth, losing by a final of 69-52. Prairie View A&M took advantage of seven Mississippi Valley State turnovers in the quarter, scoring three points off of those takeaways.

Game Notes

» The Prairie View A&M bench made an impact by scoring 19 points to its scoring output.
» The Prairie View A&M defense forced 19 turnovers.
» Prairie View A&M cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 14 offensive boards in the game.
» Cj Wilson led the Panthers with 14 points.
» Prairie View A&M got a team-high six rebounds from Cj Wilson.

This article was created using technology provided by Data Skrive.