COLLEGE PARK, Ga. — The Prairie View A&M women's basketball team displayed determination throughout the night, but a late surge by the Mississippi Valley State Devilettes resulted in a 63-49 decision Monday evening at Gateway Center Arena at College Park during the Southwestern Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Tournament.
Despite the final score, Prairie View A&M received strong performances from several players as Alana Shields, CJ Wilson, and Crystal Schultz combined to score 39 of the Lady Panthers' 49 total points.
Shields led Prairie View A&M with a game-high 17 points while adding six rebounds and two steals. Wilson contributed 12 points and four steals, and Schultz added 10 points to give the Lady Panthers three players in double figures.
Prairie View A&M battled throughout the contest after Mississippi Valley State opened with a 23-13 advantage in the first quarter. The Lady Panthers responded in the second period by tightening defensively and finding opportunities in transition.
Prairie View cut the Devilettes' lead to 32-23 before going on a 6-0 run, highlighted by a three-pointer from Margan Allen, trimming the deficit to 32-29 heading into halftime.
The Panthers carried that momentum into the third quarter. After Mississippi Valley extended its lead to 34-29, Prairie View answered with a 7-0 run, capped by a three-pointer from Schultz that gave the Lady Panthers their first lead of the night at 36-34 with 6:47 remaining in the period.
Mississippi Valley State responded late in the quarter to reclaim a 45-40 lead heading into the fourth. Prairie View continued to battle inside, scoring eight of its 11 third-quarter points in the paint while keeping the contest within striking distance.
The Devilettes eventually pulled away in the fourth quarter to secure the 63-49 win.
Shields also led Prairie View's effort on the offensive glass with three offensive rebounds as the Lady Panthers collected 10 offensive boards and converted them into eight second-chance points. Jacque Giron matched Shields with six rebounds to help pace Prairie View on the boards.
Defensively, Prairie View turned in one of its strongest performances of the season. The Lady Panthers held Mississippi Valley State to just 26.7 percent shooting from the field, forced 17 turnovers, and recorded 13 blocked shots as a team. Ja'nya Polk led the defensive effort with four blocks.
Prairie View also capitalized on six Mississippi Valley State turnovers in the fourth quarter, turning those opportunities into four points.
The Lady Panthers continued to compete with energy and effort throughout the contest, highlighted by their defensive intensity and balanced scoring from Shields, Wilson, and Schultz.
