PRAIRIE VIEW, TX -- In a challenging league encounter on February 6, 2025, at the William Nicks Building in Prairie View, TX, the Prairie View A&M Panthers faced a tough defeat against the Florida A&M Rattlers with a final score of 65-48. Despite holding a narrow halftime lead of 30-28, the Panthers could not sustain their momentum into the second half.

Nyam Thornton led the Panthers (5-14, 2-8) with two points, four assists, three steals and two blocks. Adreanna Waddle tacked on four points and four blocks off of the bench and CJ Wilson chipped in as well with seven points and two steals off of the bench.

Prairie View A&M did a great job disrupting Florida A&M shots in the contest, coming away with six blocks. Waddle's four rejections led the way individually for the Panthers.

How It Happened
The Panthers' performance featured contributions from several players. Adreanna Waddle scored 4 points and added 4 rebounds along with 4 blocks, showcasing her defensive skills. Mikayla Hutchinson contributed 5 points and 2 rebounds. Amauri Williams and CJ Wilson each added 7 points, with Wilson also grabbing 5 rebounds. The team effort, however, fell short against a strong Rattlers lineup led by Cheyenne McEvans, who dominated the court with 24 points and 16 rebounds. Sydney Hendrix also made significant contributions to the Rattlers with 12 points.

Prairie View A&M started off strong, putting together a 14-12 lead heading into the second quarter. Prairie View A&M relied on its three-point shooting in the period, knocking down two shots to account for six of its 14 points.

Florida A&M rallied to take a 28-25 lead before Prairie View A&M went on a 5-0 run starting at the 1:40 mark in the second period, highlighted by a bucket from Laila Robinson, to take a 30-28 lead, 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 16 points.

Prairie View A&M then lost its advantage in the third quarter and trailed the Rattlers 49-38 entering the fourth. Prairie View A&M took advantage of seven Florida A&M turnovers in the quarter, scoring three points off of takeaways.

Prairie View A&M could not pull any closer in the fourth, losing by a final of 65-48. Prairie View A&M took advantage of five Florida A&M turnovers in the quarter, scoring three points off of those takeaways.

Game Notes

» The Panthers held the Rattlers to only 39.7 percent shooting from the field.
» The Prairie View A&M bench made an impact by scoring 29 points to its scoring output.
» The Prairie View A&M defense forced 23 turnovers.
» The Panthers were active in affecting shots on the defensive end, tallying six blocks as a team.
» Crystal Schultz led the Panthers with 12 points.
» Prairie View A&M got a team-high four rebounds from Adreanna Waddle.

Despite the setback, Panther's coach and players are looking ahead to their next challenge. The Panthers are set to face Bethune-Cookman on February 8, 2025, again at home in the William J Nicks Building. Their current season record stands at 5-14 overall, with a 2-8 record in the SWAC league. The team remains focused on improving and turning their season around in the upcoming games.