A&M Drops 1st SWAC Game to UAPB, 65-59

Samuel and Manning both had career-high nights

Box Score / PINE BLUFF, AR - The Alabama A&M women’s basketball team saw its three game win streak snapped, 65-59, against Arkansas-Pine Bluff in its second SWAC game of the weekend. Ashleonte Samuel had a career-high night with 17 points and nine boards – just a rebound shy of her first double-double of the season. Brittany Manning also tallied a career-high 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting in 24 minutes of action. Katrich Williams and Dominisha Johnson recorded eight and seven points, respectively. The Bulldogs will host Alabama State on Saturday Jan. 17. The game is slated for 4 p.m.

A&M started off with a 4-0 advantage off two baskets by Samuel. Arkansas-Pine Bluff scored its first points of the game at the 17:06 mark, and gained its first advantage at 5-4 off a traditional three-point play by Ciara Shields. The Golden Lions took a 27-26 lead at the half.

Samuel led the Bulldogs in the first 20 with nine points and six boards in 10 minutes of action. UAPB was led by Shay Holmes’ 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting. Neither team shot well from the field as the Bulldogs were held to a 38.7 percentage (12-for-31), while the Golden Lions were held to a 35.7 (10-for-28) clip.

In the second period, the Lions came out the lockerroom and hit the first basket of the period, but a steal and fast break layup by Erica Thompson sparked the Bulldogs to go on a 9-1 run to take a 10 point lead, 40-30, at the 16:34 mark. The Lions responded by going on a 15-5 run of its own to tie it at 45-45 with 12:37 remaining in regulation. A Ciara Shields layup gave UAPB the one point advantage, 49-48, midway through the second half. Pine Bluff led by as many as eight points, 58-50, with 5:56 left. A&M sliced into the advantage and cut it to two with a Manning layup with just under three minutes to play. The Bulldogs could not regain the lead, as the Lions handed A&M its first conference loss of the season.

For UAPB, Shay Holmes had a game-best 22 points, 14 rebounds, and four blocks – including an 8-for-10 mark from the charity stripe – in 32 minutes of action off the bench. Shields recorded 15 points and 9 boards. Arica Green had 11 points on the night.

A&M will play at home against Alabama State on Sat. Jan. 17 beginning at 4 p.m.

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