PRAIRIE VIEW, TX -- In a closely contested SWAC league game, the Prairie View A&M women's basketball team took a 46-45 lead into the fourth quarter, but could not hang on and fell 64-60 to the Texas Southern Tigers at home Saturday.
The Panthers started the game on a high note, with a strong opening performance marked by precise 3-point shooting and robust defense. CJ Wilson led the charge with a total of 20 points, including several key 3-pointers that helped Prairie View A&M establish an early lead. By the end of the first period, the Panthers were up 17-6, showcasing their capacity to control the game's pace.
Prairie View A&M grabbed 31 rebounds in Saturday's game compared to Texas Southern's 30, led by eight boards from Amauri Williams.
The Prairie View A&M defense was a problem in Saturday's game, forcing 13 Texas Southern turnovers. Those takeaways turned into seven points on the offensive end of the floor. Thornton's two steals led the way individually for the Panthers.
How It Happened
Prairie View A&M started out the scoring by going on an 8-0 run, culminating in a three from Thornton, to take an early lead with 7:35 left in the first quarter. The Panthers then added three points to that lead by the end of the period and entered the quarter break with a 17-6 advantage. Prairie View A&M relied on its three-point shooting in the period, knocking down four shots to account for 12 of its 17 points.
Despite facing a vigorous comeback from Texas Southern in the second period, Prairie View A&M managed to maintain its lead, entering the halftime with a score of 35-20. Key performances included Mikayla Hutchinson, who dished out a total of 8 assists and Amauri Williams who pulled down 8 rebounds, contributing significantly to the team's effort.
After intermission, Prairie View A&M held on to its advantage and owned a 46-45 lead heading into the fourth quarter. Prairie View A&M played well near the basket, scoring six of its 11 points in the paint.
The third period saw Texas Southern aggressively decrease the gap, eventually taking a slim lead by the end of the period with the score at 46-45. The final period continued to be challenging for Prairie View A&M as they struggled to regain their earlier dominance, ultimately trailing Texas Southern at the game's conclusion. Prairie View A&M took advantage of its opportunities in the post, scoring 10 of its 14 points in the paint.
Game Notes
» The Panthers shared the ball well, recording an assist on 62 percent of made field goals.
» The Prairie View A&M bench made an impact by adding 23 points to its scoring output.
» Prairie View A&M lost despite a 31-30 rebounding advantage.
» The Prairie View A&M defense forced 13 turnovers.
» Cj Wilson led the Panthers with a game-high 20 points.
» Prairie View A&M got a game-high eight rebounds from Amauri Williams.
The team now looks forward to heading to the SWAC Tournament in Atlanta, Georgia, beginning Tuesday, March 11. For more information about the SWAC Tournament, visit swac.org
