Final Box
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Alabama State women’s basketball team overcame a slow start to earn its third consecutive Southwestern Athletic Conference victory with a 61-58 decision over Arkansas-Pine Bluff Monday night at the ASU Acadome.
Tanika Jackson led the way for ASU (6-7, 3-1 SWAC) recording her fourth straight double-double with 27 points and 10 rebounds. For Jackson, the only ASU player in double figures, it marked her seventh double-double of the season.
Shay Holmes finished with 14 points to pace UAPB (2-11, 1-2). Jasmine Abrams (11) and Jasmine Blanks (10) also chipped in double-digit performances in a loss.
The Lady Lions roared out of the gates building a 9-1 lead over the opening four minutes of the game. The Lady Hornets missed their first four shots and committed five turnovers during Pine Bluff’s surge. Tandria Milton drilled a three-pointer with 14:59 left in the first half to halt the ASU slump.
UAPB maintained a lead for most of the first half, leading by as many as nine points, before Alabama State began to slowly chip away at the lead. A jumper by Jackson with 3:18 left in the half put the Lady Hornets in front for the first time in the game, 26-25.
The score remained close for the rest of the half with Jakayla Hill’s layup at the buzzer sending ASU into the break with a 32-30 advantage.
After a quick three-point play gave the Lady Hornets a five-point edge early in the second half, the Lady Lions answered with an 8-0 run to regain the lead. UAPB held the lead for the next three minutes of play, but ASU fought back to retake a lead with over 13 minutes remaining that it would never relinquish.
Jackson scored eight of the next 10 points for the Lady Hornets as ASU’s lead grew to a game-high of nine points, 53-44, with 8:03 left to play.
Pine Bluff mounted a final charge outscoring ASU 12-3 over the next six minutes of play forcing a tie at 56-56 with 1:38 remaining. After trading baskets, Jackson connected on three of four free throws in the closing 20 seconds to put the game away for the Lady Hornets.
Alabama State concludes its current three-game SWAC homestand Saturday at 3 p.m. against rival Alabama A&M.