HUNTSVILLE, Ala. | The Alabama A&M University women's basketball team begins its quest for a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Women's Basketball Tournament title on Thursday in the quarterfinals against a familiar foe, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, at Bartow Arena.
The Bulldogs, the No. 5 seed in the tournament, and Golden Lions, the No. 4 seed, will be meeting for the third time this season as the quarterfinal contest as the two tip-off at 5:30 p.m. and streamed on ESPN+.
Alabama A&M (15-15) closed out the season on a two-game losing streak as the Bulldogs dropped home games to Grambling State and Southern. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (16-14) is also entering on a two-game losing streak, including a 59-52 road defeat to Alcorn State on Saturday.
HEAD COACH – MARGARET RICHARDS
Career Record: 129-148 (10th season)
At Alabama A&M: 97-124 (eighth season)
SWAC Record: 69-70
SERIES HISTORY [note: since 2006]
All-Time Record vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff: Alabama A&M leads series, 28-13
Last 10 Games vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff: Alabama A&M leads, 7-3
Last Meeting: Alabama A&M 67, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 59
Richards vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff: 11-6
Gallery: (3-9-2024) Alabama A&M vs. Southern
LAST MEETING
Alabama A&M led from start to finish, jumping out to a 20-6 lead in the opening quarter, and did not look back in a 67-59 victory on Feb. 19.
Amiah Simmons paced the offense with eight of her team-high 20 points coming at the foul line, while grabbing nine rebounds.
Kaylah Turner recorded 19 points and eight boards and
Alisha Wilson tallied 12 points and seven boards.
Maya Peat led UAPB with a double-double of 20 points and 14 rebounds, while Zaay Green chipped in 11 points and eight boards as the Golden Lions shot 11 percent from the floor in the first quarter.
LAST TIME OUT – ALABAMA A&M
The Bulldogs could not recover from a slow start as Alabama A&M shot nearly 33 percent from the floor in a 59-50 loss to Southern on Saturday.
Kaylah Turner paced the Bulldogs with 13 points and two boards, while
Amiah Simmons added 12 points and seven rebounds.
Alisha Wilson posted another double-double, 15 rebounds and 10 points as AAMU registered 26 points in the paint in the home loss.
LAST TIME OUT – ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF
The Golden Lions shot 29 percent from the floor and got 12 points in the paint in a 59-52 loss to Alcorn State on Saturday.
Maya Peat led UAPB with 15 points and eight rebounds, while Zaay Green and Kaila Walkereach poured in 14 points in the road loss.
TOP SCORERS
Alabama A&M
Amiah Simmons – 15.1 points
Kaylah Turner – 11.3 points
Darian Burgin – 9.0 points
Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Zaay Green – 16.3 points
Coriah Beck – 12.8 points
Maya Peat – 10.6 points
SWAC PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH IN PRESEASON POLL
Alabama A&M – fourth
Arkansas-Pine Bluff – third
BIGGEST NON-CONFERENCE WIN
Alabama A&M – vs. North Alabama (70-57 // Nov. 29, 2023)
Arkansas-Pine Bluff – at Arkansas (74-70 // Dec. 10, 2023)
UP NEXT
The winner of the Alabama A&M versus Arkansas-Pine Bluff contest will meet the winner of top seed Jackson State and eighth seed Prairie View A&M in the 2024 SWAC Women's Basketball Tournament semifinals on Friday. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. from Bartow Arena.
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