PRAIRIE VIEW, TX --The Prairie View A&M women's basketball team shot 50 percent from three-point range on the way to a 57-50 victory over the Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils at home Thursday at the William Nicks Building.
The game started off challenging for the Panthers as the Devilettes took an early lead, managing a slim margin for much of the first half. Prairie View, however, flipped the script in the second half, particularly in the third period where they surged to an eight-point lead, controlling the pace and execution on both ends of the court. Crystal Schultz was the star for Prairie View with 19 points, her pivotal three-pointers in the third period elevating the Panthers' momentum. Nia Jordan supported with 11 points which crucially upheld the team's competitive edge and Nyam Thornton added six points and four assists.
How It Happened
The defensive efforts were led by Ash'a Thompson who grabbed 12 rebounds while the team's steal effort was bolstered by CJ Wilson and Nyam Thornton, each snatching two steals. Prairie View's performance in the second half exemplified a well-orchestrated play between offense and defense, creating turnovers and capitalizing through quick transitions.
Prairie View A&M kept it close in the first quarter, but entered the second frame down 9-5.
Mississippi Valley State kept adding to that lead, building a 22-11 advantage before Prairie View A&M went on a 9-0 run, highlighted by a three from Jordan, to narrow its deficit to 22-20, a score that would hold until halftime.
Mississippi Valley State continued to increase its lead after halftime, building a 25-22 advantage before Prairie View A&M went on a 9-0 run, punctuated by a three from Schultz, to grab a 31-25 lead with 4:16 to go in the third. Before the third period was over, the Panthers added one point to that lead and entered the fourth quarter with a 40-33 edge. Prairie View A&M knocked down four three-pointers in the quarter to score 12 of its 20 total points.
The Panthers then held on for the victory in the fourth quarter. Key plays in the fourth quarter included several crucial free throws and layups by Schultz, which helped maintain and extend their lead.
Game Notes
» The Panthers made half of their attempts from three point range, knocking down nine of 18 shots.
» The Panthers held the Delta Devils to only 26.7 percent shooting from the field.
» The Prairie View A&M bench came alive by adding 38 points to its scoring output.
» Crystal Schultz and Nia Jordan came off the bench to score 19 and 11 points, respectively.
» 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.
» Crystal Schultz led the Panthers with a game-high 19 points.
» Prairie View A&M got a game-high 12 rebounds from Ash'a Thompson.
Looking ahead, the Panthers are set to face the University of Arkansas - Pine Bluff on February 22, 2025, at the William J Nicks Building, aiming to use this victory as a catalyst for the remainder of the season.
