COLLEGE PARK, Ga. (Interstat) — Alabama State pulled away in the fourth quarter to defeat Arkansas-Pine Bluff 72-59 in a Southwestern Athletic Conference women’s basketball tournament game Friday at Gateway Center Arena. The Lady Hornets, now 17-14, used a 23-point final period to secure the win after the Lady Golden Lions closed to within four points entering the quarter. Alabama State built an early lead with 22 first-quarter points but was outscored in the second and third quarters. Arkansas-Pine Bluff, which ended its season at 15-16, was led by Jasmine Davis and Jailah Pelly. Amari Franklin and Ny’Keria Flowers were key contributors for Alabama State. Attendance was 1,072.

COLLEGE PARK, Ga. (Interstat) — The Alabama State Lady Hornets used a dominant fourth-quarter surge to pull away from the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Lady Golden Lions, securing a 72-59 victory in a Southwestern Athletic Conference women’s basketball tournament quarterfinal on Friday at Gateway Center Arena. The game, played before an announced crowd of 1,072, was a tightly contested affair for three quarters before Alabama State seized control with a 23-point final period. The win improved the Lady Hornets’ overall record to 17-14, while Arkansas-Pine Bluff concluded its season at 15-16. Alabama State established an early lead with a strong first quarter, outscoring Pine Bluff 22-13 behind efficient play from guards Ny’Keria Flowers and Caylee Simpson. The Lady Golden Lions responded in the second quarter, mounting a 20-12 run to cut the deficit to just a single point at halftime, trailing 34-33. The comeback was fueled by guard Jasmine Davis and a defensive effort that forced several Alabama State turnovers. The third quarter saw both teams trade baskets in a defensive struggle, with Alabama State holding a narrow 49-47 edge heading into the final frame. The pivotal shift came as the fourth quarter began. Alabama State’s offense found its rhythm while its defense clamped down, holding Pine Bluff to just 12 points in the quarter. A key sequence saw Alanah Pooler convert an and-one opportunity and Shamya Reid hit two free throws to extend a slim lead to seven points early in the period. Arkansas-Pine Bluff, reliant on the scoring of Davis and the playmaking of Jailah Pelly, could not counter the Lady Hornets’ balanced attack. Alabama State methodically built its lead through free throws and second-chance points, culminating in a 13-point advantage that would not be challenged in the closing minutes. Davis, a guard from Little Rock, Arkansas, led all scorers with 17 points for Pine Bluff, adding five assists. Pelly, from St. Louis, contributed 11 points and eight assists in 39 minutes of play. Indiya Bowen added 13 points for the Lady Golden Lions. Alabama State showcased a more distributed scoring effort. Flowers, a guard from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, led the Lady Hornets with 14 points and five assists. Pooler, a forward from Houston, Texas, provided a crucial 13 points off the bench. Simpson, from Columbus, Georgia, added 12 points, and Amari Franklin of Pensacola, Florida, chipped in 10 points. The Lady Hornets’ depth proved decisive, outscoring Pine Bluff’s bench 23-4. The most important part of the game was Alabama State’s decisive fourth-quarter performance, which transformed a two-point lead into a comfortable victory. After three quarters of back-and-forth play, the Lady Hornets opened the final period with a 10-2 run, highlighted by Pooler’s three-point play and Reid’s free throws, to establish a nine-point cushion. This burst deflated the Lady Golden Lions’ momentum from their earlier comeback. Alabama State then maintained control by excelling in the game’s final stages, scoring 12 of its final 17 points from the free-throw line while its defense forced key turnovers from Pine Bluff’s primary ball-handlers, Davis and Pelly, in the closing minutes. This combination of timely offense and stifling defense in the clutch was the defining stretch of the contest. The victory advances Alabama State in the SWAC tournament. Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s season, which included a win over Memphis in November and a recent three-game winning streak, comes to an end.

Preview: Arkansas-Pine Bluff Lady Golden Lions vs. Alabama State Lady Hornets COLLEGE PARK, Ga. (Interstat) — A pair of teams jockeying for momentum entering postseason play will meet Friday when the Alabama State Lady Hornets host the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Lady Golden Lions in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game at Gateway Center Arena. The matchup, scheduled for March 13, 2026, features two squads with nearly identical records. Alabama State (16-14) holds a slight edge over Arkansas-Pine Bluff (15-15) in the standings. The Lady Hornets also swept the regular-season series, winning 79-71 at home on Feb. 14 and 71-65 in overtime at Pine Bluff on Jan. 1. Both teams are coming off victories. Alabama State defeated Grambling 56-50 on Thursday, led by Ny’Keria Flowers’ 11 points and four assists. Arkansas-Pine Bluff earned a 64-60 road win at Alcorn State on Wednesday, powered by 19 points from Jailah Pelly. Pelly, a guard for the Lady Golden Lions, has been a consistent offensive force. She averaged 14.6 points over her last eight games, including a 19-point performance in the most recent meeting with Alabama State. Her backcourt counterpart, Flowers, is a key facilitator for the Lady Hornets, coming off an 11-point, four-assist effort. Alabama State has relied on a balanced attack. In its win over Grambling, Caylee Simpson added 12 points and Clearia Peterson provided eight points off the bench. Arkansas-Pine Bluff has seen secondary scoring emerge from Khaniah Gardner, who scored 16 points Wednesday, and Indiya Bowen, who added 14 points and four assists. The game will be played at a neutral site, the Gateway Center Arena, adding another variable to this Southwestern Athletic Conference contest. With the conference tournament looming, both teams will look to solidify their seeding and carry a winning streak into the playoffs. Tipoff is set for Friday evening.