PINE BLUFF, Ark. (Interstat) — Arkansas-Pine Bluff used a dominant second half to defeat Bethune-Cookman 77-54 in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game Thursday night at HPER Complex. The game was tied 32-32 at halftime, but the Lady Golden Lions seized control after the break. They outscored the Wildcats 46-22 in the second half, including a 24-point third quarter. The victory improved Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s record to 5-10 this season, while Bethune-Cookman fell to 3-14. Indiya Bowen, Jailah Pelly and Khaniah Gardner were key performers for the Lady Golden Lions. Janessa Kelley and Tyler Butler led the effort for the Wildcats. Attendance was 746.

PINE BLUFF, Ark. (Interstat) — A dominant second-half performance propelled the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Lady Golden Lions to a decisive 77-54 victory over the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats in a Southwestern Athletic Conference women’s basketball game Thursday night at the HPER Complex. The game, witnessed by 746 fans, was a tale of two halves. Bethune-Cookman (3-14, 0-2 SWAC) hung tough through the opening quarters, trailing by just two points at halftime, 31-29. The Wildcats even held a narrow 16-15 lead after a tightly contested first quarter. But the Lady Golden Lions (5-10, 2-1) seized control after the break, outscoring the Wildcats 46-25 over the final 20 minutes to turn a close contest into a lopsided win. The pivotal shift came in the third quarter. Arkansas-Pine Bluff erupted for 24 points while holding Bethune-Cookman to just eight, establishing a 55-37 lead entering the final period. The Lady Golden Lions’ defense was the catalyst, forcing a flurry of Wildcat turnovers and converting them into easy transition opportunities. For the game, Arkansas-Pine Bluff recorded 15 steals, leading to 24 Bethune-Cookman turnovers, which the home team translated into 28 points. Indiya Bowen, a 5-foot-9 guard from Horn Lake, Mississippi, orchestrated the Arkansas-Pine Bluff attack with a game-high 21 points and seven assists. Her playmaking, particularly in the second half, broke down the Wildcat defense repeatedly. She was supported by a strong inside presence from 6-foot-2 forward Khaniah Gardner of Chicago, who added 15 points, and guard Jailah Pelly of St. Louis, who chipped in 12 points and four assists. Bethune-Cookman was led by Janessa Kelley, who scored 14 points in just 15 minutes off the bench. Tyler Butler added 11 points for the Wildcats, who struggled mightily with offensive efficiency. Bethune-Cookman shot a respectable 44.2% from the field but were undone by their 24 giveaways and a 10-for-18 performance at the free-throw line. Their offensive rating of 83.7 points per 100 possessions paled in comparison to Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s mark of 114.2. The Lady Golden Lions also shared the ball effectively, tallying 15 assists on 27 made field goals, and capitalized at the charity stripe, making 17 of 24 attempts. Their defensive pressure was relentless, with Kristyna Boyd contributing four steals and Jasmine Davis adding five assists and three steals to the collective effort. The win gives Arkansas-Pine Bluff its second conference victory and some momentum as they prepare for a road swing to Grambling and Southern next week. Bethune-Cookman, still searching for its first SWAC win, will look to rebound quickly when they travel to face Mississippi Valley State on Saturday. Statistically, the game was decided in the margins created by Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s defensive intensity. While the rebounding battle was nearly even, the Lady Golden Lions’ ability to harass Bethune-Cookman into mistakes and then efficiently execute on the offensive end proved insurmountable. The third-quarter surge, fueled by this formula, was the definitive stretch that secured the home victory.

Preview: Bethune-Cookman Wildcats at Arkansas-Pine Bluff Lady Golden Lions PINE BLUFF, Ark. (Interstat) — Two Southwestern Athletic Conference women’s basketball teams seeking momentum will meet Thursday when the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Lady Golden Lions host the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats at the HPER Complex. Both teams enter the matchup on losing streaks. Bethune-Cookman (3-13 overall) has dropped its last two games, most recently a 67-60 home loss to Grambling on Jan. 10. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (4-10) is coming off an 80-57 road defeat to Texas Southern the same day. The Wildcats will lean on guard Kailyn Peters, who is coming off a 20-point performance in 35 minutes against Grambling. Over her last seven games, Peters has averaged 10.9 points, including a 15-point outing against Southern on Jan. 8. The Lady Golden Lions counter with guard Jasmine Davis, who scored a season-high 21 points in the loss to Texas Southern. Davis has been a key scorer for UAPB, though her production has fluctuated in conference play. Defense may be a deciding factor. Bethune-Cookman has allowed 70 or more points in seven games this season, while Arkansas-Pine Bluff has struggled offensively, scoring 65 or fewer points in 11 of its 14 contests. In their last meeting, Arkansas-Pine Bluff defeated Bethune-Cookman 71-65 on Feb. 24, 2025. Thursday’s game is the first of two scheduled matchups this SWAC season. Following this contest, Bethune-Cookman travels to face Mississippi Valley State on Saturday. Arkansas-Pine Bluff begins a two-game road trip at Grambling on Jan. 22. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. CST.