Sports

Lady Lions fall in OT to Texas Southern

By Jeremy Muck/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF
Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:22 AM CST

The Arkansas-Pine Bluff women’s basketball team is not used to playing the second game of the doubleheader.

And on Monday night, the Lady Lions had to play an extra five minutes, much to the dismay of the players and especially head coach Danny Evans.

The Lady Lions could not overcome Texas Southern, falling to the Lady Tigers 70-65 in overtime Monday night at H.O. Clemmons Arena. It was the second overtime game at H.O. Clemmons Arena on Monday night. The Golden Lions-Texas Southern game earlier in the night went to overtime with the Tigers coming out on top 77-76.

UAPB led 58-57 with 5.1 seconds left when Texas Southern had the last possession of regulation. Delores Hughley put the Lady Lions ahead with a jumper with 5.1 seconds remaining in regulation. However, Tashayla Jackson was called for a foul with no time left on the clock. Texas Southern’s Jamelah Lewis made one of two free throws at the charity stripe to send the game to overtime at 58-58.

Fortunately for the fans that were still in attendance Monday night, no objects were thrown onto the court, which was what took place at the end of regulation of the Golden Lions’ game against Texas Southern in the first game of the doubleheader.

Instead, Evans stormed out to midcourt to check on Jackson, who went down during the play. She appeared to injure her right leg on the play and had to be helped off the court by UAPB trainers.

Early in the overtime period, Lewis gave the Lady Tigers a 61-58 lead when she drained a three-pointer. UAPB did not score from the field until LaQuisha Slaton’s bucket with 49.5 seconds left in overtime. The Lady Lions were 5-of-6 from the free throw line in the overtime period, but it was for naught Monday night.

Shadae Martin led the Lady Lions with 22 points Monday night. Arica Green scored 11 points. Hughley added 10 points in the loss. UAPB (9-17, 7-8 SWAC) shot 31.5 percent from the field Monday night.

Texas Southern (8-16, 6-8 SWAC) was led by Lewis with 17 points.

The Lady Lions led 29-25 at halftime. UAPB struggled from the field, shooting 35.3 percent (12-of-34) from the field. But the 12 turnovers by Texas Southern in the first half helped the Lady Lions take the four-point halftime lead.

UAPB will return to action Saturday on the road to face Grambling. The Lady Lions have won their last two road games, at Southern Feb. 16 and at Alcorn State Feb. 18.

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