Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.– Junior guard Coriah Beck scored a team-high 16 points to pace No. 7 seed Arkansas Pine Bluff to a 62-55 upset win over No. 2 seed Alabama A&M in the opening quarterfinals game of the Southwestern Athletic Conference at Bartow Arena in Birmingham.
 
The triumph pushes Golden Lions’ record to 13-16.
 
Beck was one of three Golden Lions to crack double figures. Demetria Shephard netted 15 and Jelissa Reese had 13.
 
UAPB head coach Dawn Thornton praised the effectiveness of this trio. She also reflected on the team’s overall depth as viable scoring options.
 
“These young women did a phenomenal job in preparing themselves for this contest. They felt it was their time to prove to everybody what they were capable of doing,” Thornton said.
 
“Everybody on this this team is capable of scoring the basketball. We put together a great roster to have some success. Scoring is something I don’t have to worry about. Defending is what I want to make sure we preach to the team. We have to defend.”
 
In the regular season, UAPB and ALABAMA A&M split wins. Single digits decided the outcome of both games. Wednesday’s tournament clash maintained the same scoring theme as the other matchups.
 
UAPB led 36-29 at the half.
 
However, the Golden Lions were out of sync in the third quarter. They were limited to three points in the frame as Alabama A&M pulled ahead 40-39 entering the fourth quarter.
 
The Golden Lions regained their composure by returning to the core foundation of their philosophy.
 
“Our three points in the third quarter was because everybody relaxed. We had to get back to our principles – defend first, rebound and go get it,” Shephard said.
 
A poor shooting spell by the Bulldogs proved to be the difference that led to their demise and elimination from the tournament. Alabama A&M only hit 26.3% from the field in the fourth quarter.
 
“We had a great plan. My young ladies fought. We had chances – we just didn’t connect. You have to be able to make tough plays when the game is on the line,” Alabama A&M head coach Margret Richards said.
 
“The stage was too big for us. We made crucial turnovers and mistakes. We just lost focus. It just didn’t go our way.”  
 
With this season-ending loss, Alabama A&M falls to 14-15.
 
Up Next
With this win, UAPB next faces the winner of No. 3 seed Alabama State-No. 6 seed Bethune-Cookman on Friday, March 10 at 11 a.m. (CST).
 
About the SWAC
The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) is considered one of the premier HBCU conferences in the country and currently ranks among the elite in the nation in terms of HBCU alumni playing with professional sports teams.
 
Current championship competition offered by the league includes competition for men in Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field and Tennis.

Women’s competition is offered in the sports of Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field, Soccer, Softball, Tennis and Volleyball.

Follow the SWAC
For complete coverage of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, please follow the SWAC on social media at @TheSWAC (Twitter), @TheSWAC (Facebook), and @TheSWAC (Instagram) or visit the official home of the Southwestern Athletic Conference at www.swac.org.