HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Alabama A&M (9-4, 7-3 SWAC) used an 18-7 run to close out the first half and never looked back as they raced past Prairie View A&M (3-10, 2-8 SWAC) by a 74-51 score in an NCAA Division I women's basketball game on Saturday, February 27.
 
Senior guard Deshawna Harper (Indianapolis, Ind.) led all scorers with 23 points on 5-of-9 shooting from beyond the arc and also dished out six assists and came away with five steals to lead the Bulldogs. She was joined by junior forward Dariauna Lewis (Omaha, Neb.) with 18 points and 13 boards, nearly half of those (6) off the offensive glass, and four blocks and as many assists.
 
Freshman guard Darian Burgin (Cincinnati, Ohio) added 11 points with three long balls and four caroms while redshirt-junior center Elexis Evans (Greensboro, Ala.) delivered nine points and five rebounds. Senior guard Nigeria Jones (Lincoln, Neb.) rounded out the top performers with five points, six assists and three boards.
 
It would be a back-and-forth affair early on as the clubs would deadlock twice in the first five and a half minutes, the latter at 10-10, before a three from Kennedy Paul gave PVAMU the advantage by that margin.
 
They would hold a narrow 15-14 lead heading to the second, one that would quickly get bounced back and forth as the teams seesawed through two more lead changes and a tie before the Bulldogs took control. Trailing 20-18 with just under two minutes gone by, A&M powered out to an 18-7 run that they would use to close the half with a 36-27 lead.
 
That margin would grow to 17 on a pair of occasions in the third period, the latter of those coming at 53-36 with 1:45 on the clock. After taking a 54-39 lead into the fourth, Alabama A&M would not take their foot off the gas as they extended to a game-high 23 point spread three times, including the final margin of 74-51 as they wrapped up the convincing victory.
 
Diana Rosenthal led the Panthers with 19 points, behind three triples, and added four steals, four assists and four rebounds while Paul finished with 11 points. Kennedi Heard added nine points and three boards and Tamiracle Taylor chipped in with six points.
 
The Bulldogs close out the home slate on Monday, March 1 as they host Texas Southern. Game time is set for 5 p.m. at Elmore Gymnasium.

FULL GAME VIDEO