PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas – The Prairie View A&M University women’s basketball team put together arguably its most complete performance of the season in posting a 73-63 win over Jackson State at the William J. Nicks Babydome.
Alexus Parker scored 22 points to lead four PVAMU starters in double figures as the Lady Panthers (6-10 overall, 1-3 SWAC) never trailed in the contest. Tori Carter scored 17 points, Jeronia Allen scored 15 and La’Sha Haynes posted career highs in points (12) and rebounds (12).
“I thought we had a great week of practice,” said Prairie View A&M women’s basketball coach Ravon Justice. “We were really focused. We worked really hard on making sure we did some things differently defensively and that we execute offensively. We had some mental breakdowns, and that’s part of basketball. Overall, I’m estactic about how we performed and how we fought and finished.”
The PVAMU quartet led the way throughout the win. Parker added five rebounds, four assists and two steals. Carter added three rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks. Allen added four rebounds, a game-high five assists, two steals and a blocked shot, while Haynes also had a pair of assists.
Allen (nine points) and Parker (six points) combined for 15 first-quarter points as the Lady Panthers took a 19-16 lead. Parker scored seven points in the second quarter, and her jumper capped off a 12-3 run that gave Prairie View A&M its largest lead of the first half at 31-22 with four minutes to play in the in the opening half as PVAMU led 35-30 at halftime.
The Lady Panthers’ defensive effort in the third quarter broke the game open. PVAMU held Jackson State (7-7, 1-4) to only 3-of-19 shooting to turn a five-point halftime margin into a 55-39 lead. A jumper by Carter gave the Lady Panthers a 45-34 lead with 7:19 to play in the quarter. Carter’s layup just before the end of the period completed a 20-9 scoring run.
“We were active. We took chances on the basketball,” said Justice of the defensive turnup after halftime. “We made plays. That’s something I talk to my team about in practice. Playmakers make plays. I thought we were very active. We got some deflections. We were right there when Jackson State caught the ball and good things happened for us.”
Prairie View A&M returns to action Monday hosting Grambling State at 5:30 p.m. in the William J. Nicks Babydome.
