Prairie View A&M handed Arkansas Pine Bluff its seventh conference loss with a 74-58 win in Little Rock, Arkansas, Saturday, Feb. 23. After the game was tied at 19, the Lady Panthers went on a 12-2 run before the half to lead 38-31.
In the second half, the Lady Panthers increased their lead by shooting 50 percent from the field (13-of-26) while the Lady Lions struggled to score shooting just 33 percent (8-of-24). The Panthers’ surge was led by senior Shavonne Smith and junior Chari Smith’s 19 points. Shavonne Smith also pulled down nine rebounds while Candice Thomas dropped in 17 points for the Lady Panthers.
On Monday, Feb. 25 the Lady Panthers took on Mississippi Valley State University to try to stay on top in the SWAC standings. They would do just that behind Chari Smith’s 17 points and nine rebounds for a 67-53 win in Itta Bena, Miss. With 9:22 left before halftime, the Panthers started a 13-4 run to increase their lead to 33-21 at intermission.
In the second half, the Lady Devils still could not control the Lady Panthers as their lead rose to 19, with 12:11 left in the game. MVSU cut the deficit to eight before the Lady Panthers stopped the run and left Mississippi with a 14 point win. Thomas was in double digits for a second straight game with 15 points and Gaati Werema added 12 points and 10 rebounds to help Prairie View’s cause. Amanda Hammond scored 14 points for the Lady Devils while Portia Wilson recorded her sixth double double with 14 points and 12 rebounds.
The Panthers will play in the William J. Nicks field house for the last time this season against Alabama A&M, Saturday March 1 and Alabama State on March 3 both at 5:30 p.m.
The Lady Panthers are now geared for the final stretch of the season before their trip to Birmingham, Ala., and the South Western Athletic Conference Tournament March 12-15.