The Alcorn State Lady Braves (9-2, 12-10) started strong but couldn’t hold on, falling to the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lady Lions (6-5, 9-12) 64‑60 Saturday, Saturday 7th, in a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) matchup.
Alcorn came out firing, building a double-digit lead early. The Lady Braves used solid shooting and tough defense to take a 24‑10 lead after the first quarter and pushed that advantage to 17 by halftime. Kiarra Henderson led the team with 20 points, while Nakia Cheatham added 11 and grabbed nine rebounds. Chrishunti Walker chipped in 13 points as the Lady Braves looked poised to pull away.
But UAPB refused to go quietly. The Golden Lions came alive in the third quarter, outscoring Alcorn 25‑11 to close the gap. Jailah Pelly led the comeback with 20 points, supported by Indiya Bowen’s 15 points and Jasmine Davis’ 12. Khaniah Gardner controlled the boards with 15 rebounds, giving UAPB crucial second-chance opportunities.
The fourth quarter was a back and forth battle, but UAPB’s energy and defensive pressure carried them past the Lady Braves. Alcorn struggled to regain their early rhythm, and the Golden Lions held on for the win.
Despite the loss, the Lady Braves showed flashes of their potential, and Alcorn’s coach Nate Kilbert emphasized staying focused for the next game. For UAPB, it was a testament to resilience and teamwork, proving they could fight back from a tough first half.
The Lady Braves now turn their attention to their next SWAC matchup which will be against the Florida A&M Lady Rattlers (6-5, 7-15) on Thursday, February 12th at 6:00 pm at the Davey L. Whitney Complex.