On Saturday, Feb. 18 the Lady Panthers took the court against the Tigers of Jackson State University. The Lady Panthers could not stop Jackson State’s desire, as the Panthers experience their first conference loss, 70-60.
Jackson State came into the game offensively strong, having a 15-4 lead at the 13:45 mark. Guards Kandis Brown, Shavonne Smith, and Gaati Werema combined for 10 points to put the Lady Panthers within one against Jackson State. A Smith lay-up put Prairie View up 16-15.
Prairie View played tenacious defense with Jackson State going scoreless for nearly seven minutes. The Lady Panthers took 27-26 lead at the half.
In the second half the Lady Panthers took a five point lead with a Werema lay-up and continued its offensive burst taking a 54-44 lead with 3:57 remaining, with a Twila Stokes put back.
Jackson State wasn’t quite able to grant Prairie View a win as they made a 12-2 comeback, bringing the game to a 56 tie with 15 seconds left in the contest.
The Lady Panthers persevered as they took a one point lead with a Candice Thomas lay-up with seven seconds left. The Lady Tigers would answer again as Erlexis Cooper connected on a lay-up as time expired.
In overtime Jackson State took the first lead as Shaneese McLin connected on two free throws. The Lady Panthers didn’t have an answer for Jackson State as they went on a 12-2 run to win 70-60.
Prairie View’s Werema was one of two players to reach double figures, leading Prairie View with 14 points on 4-of-10 shooting from the field. Chari Smith contributed with 10 points and 4 rebounds on 5-of-8 shooting.
After the loss, the Lady Panthers set out for redemption against the struggling Grambling State Tigers. Fluid ball movement and tough defense drove the Lady Panthers past Grambling, 77-47.
An earlier game time didn’t faze the Lady Panthers, as they proved they can still play with the same intensity and force. Grambling State stayed close throughout the first half but could not completely blow past the Lady Panthers’ defense.
In the second half, the Lady Panthers turned the defense up a notch and held the Tigers to 22 points, while they went on to score 49. Tough defense and strong scoring saw the Panthers as the victors in the contest.
Chari Smith and Gaati Werema both produced double figures in the win. Werema accumulated 28 points, 16 rebounds, two blocks, and two steals. Smith had 14 points, 10 rebounds, two blocks, and two steals. Candice Thomas kept the Tigers guessing with eleven points and seven assists, and Dominique Smith tossed in 12 points.
The Lady Panthers will now hit the road for a two game road trip. Saturday, Feb. 23 the Panthers face Arkansas Pine-Bluff in Pine Bluff, Ark., and Mississippi Valley State in Itta Bena, Miss. on Monday, Feb. 25, both at 5:30 p.m.