PRAIRIE VIEW, TX --In a closely contested game at the William Nicks Building in Prairie View, TX, the Prairie View A&M Panthers emerged victorious over the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats with a tight final score of 65-60 on February 8, 2025. The Panthers, led by Mikayla Hutchinson's impressive 18 points, showed resilience and teamwork to clinch this critical win, enhancing their season record to 6-14 overall and 3-8 in the SWAC.
The Prairie View A&M women's basketball team fought back from a 49-47 deficit after the third quarter to defeat the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats 65-60 at home Saturday.
The game began on a competitive note, with both teams showcasing their strengths, but Prairie View A&M managed to take a slight edge by halftime with a score of 37-32. Key contributions came from not just Hutchinson, but also Kaci Chairs and Crystal Schultz, each adding 9 points to the team's tally. Noteworthy performances were also seen from CJ Wilson and Nyam Thornton, who added much-needed defense and assists, making significant impacts that proved crucial in the game's outcome.
Additionally, the support from players like Ash'a Thompson and Adreanna Waddle, who combined for crucial rebounds and steals, further underscores the depth of Prairie View A&M's squad. The team showed a strong front against a robust Bethune-Cookman lineup, highlighted by Asianae Nicholson who dropped 16 points and grabbed 15 rebounds.
How It Happened
After falling behind 15-4, Prairie View A&M went on an 11-0 run with 3:19 left in the first quarter, culminating in a three from Kaci Chairs, to tie the game at 15. The game stayed close for the remainder of the first, as the Panthers finished the period with the score tied at 17-17. Prairie View A&M did most of its first quarter damage in the paint, scoring 10 of its 17 points close to the basket.
Bethune-Cookman then took a 19-17 lead before Prairie View A&M responding by going on a 6-0 run, highlighted by a three from Chairs, to take a 23-19 lead. The Panthers proceeded to tack on one point to that lead and enjoyed a 37-32 advantage heading into halftime. Prairie View A&M dominated in the paint, scoring 10 of its 20 points close to the basket.
Prairie View A&M then lost its advantage in the third quarter and trailed the Wildcats 49-47 entering the fourth. Prairie View A&M's bench made the most of its minutes in the period, as non-starters totaled seven of the team's 10 third-quarter points.
Bethune-Cookman kept widening its lead in the fourth, constructing a 55-51 advantage before Prairie View A&M went on a 7-0 run, finished off by Cj Wilson's layup, to seize a 58-55 lead with 2:47 to go in the contest. The Panthers kept expanding the margin and coasted the rest of the way for the 65-60 win. Prairie View A&M took advantage of its opportunities in the post, scoring 10 of its 18 points in the paint.
Game Notes
» The Panthers rallied from a two-point 49-47 third quarter deficit to pick up the win.
» The Panthers shot well from three point range, knocking down six of 14 long range attempts.
» The Panthers held the Wildcats to only 37.7 percent shooting from the field.
» Prairie View A&M tallied 16 total assists in the game.
» The Prairie View A&M bench made an impact by adding 26 points to its scoring output.
» The Prairie View A&M defense forced 25 turnovers.
» The Panthers were active in affecting shots on the defensive end, recording six blocks as a team.
» Mikayla Hutchinson led the Panthers with a game-high 18 points.
» Prairie View A&M got a team-high six rebounds from Adreanna Waddle.
Looking ahead, the Panthers set their sights on their next challenge against Grambling State University on February 13. As they prepare to meet the Tigers, the Panthers aim to build on this momentum and improve their standing in the competitive SWAC league.
