PINE BLUFF, Ark. (Interstat) — Khaniah Gardner recorded a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds Saturday to power the Arkansas-Pine Bluff women’s basketball team to an 81-56 victory over Prairie View. The Lady Golden Lions built a commanding 45-26 halftime lead and never relented at HPER Complex. Gardner, a 6-foot-2 sophomore from Chicago, added one assist in 26 minutes. Jailah Pelly scored 14 points with five rebounds and four assists for Arkansas-Pine Bluff, which improved to 11-14 overall. Crystal Schultz scored a game-high 20 points for the Lady Panthers. Prairie View fell to 2-24. Attendance was 1,347.

PINE BLUFF, Ark. (Interstat) — The Arkansas-Pine Bluff Lady Golden Lions used a dominant first half and overwhelming interior presence to cruise past the Prairie View A&M Lady Panthers 81-56 in a Southwestern Athletic Conference women’s basketball game Saturday at the HPER Complex. The game was effectively decided in the opening 20 minutes, as the Lady Golden Lions built a 45-26 halftime lead that Prairie View never seriously threatened. Arkansas-Pine Bluff established its authority immediately, scoring 22 points in the first quarter and 23 in the second while holding Prairie View to just 13 points in each period. The most important part of the game was this early surge, fueled by a decisive 58-14 advantage in points in the paint, which allowed the home team to control the tempo and the scoreboard from the outset. Khaniah Gardner, a 6-foot-2 junior from Chicago, led all scorers with 17 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for a double-double in just 26 minutes of action. She anchored the Lady Golden Lions’ interior attack, which shot 33 for 71 from the floor overall while attempting just 21 three-pointers. Gardner’s performance continued a strong stretch of play, following a 24-point outing in a win over Texas Southern earlier in the week. She was far from alone, as Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s offense featured balanced scoring and efficient ball movement. Jailah Pelly of St. Louis added 14 points, five rebounds and four assists. Jakyra Jackson, from West Helena, Arkansas, also scored 14 points and dished out five assists. Indiya Bowen contributed 13 points, and Jasmine Davis finished with 10 points, six rebounds and four assists. Tyra Taylor provided a significant boost off the bench with eight points and six rebounds. Prairie View, which fell to 2-24 overall, was led by Crystal Schultz of Houston, who scored a team-high 20 points. CJ Wilson of Atlanta added 11 points and seven rebounds. The Lady Panthers struggled offensively throughout, shooting just 18 for 53 from the field and committing 18 turnovers. Their offensive rating of 76.2 points per 100 possessions paled in comparison to Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s mark of 105.2. Despite the lopsided score, the Lady Panthers showed some fight after halftime, outscoring the Lady Golden Lions 18-15 in the third quarter. A three-pointer from Schultz and a layup by Margan Allen in the final minute of the period cut the deficit to 60-44 heading to the fourth. However, Arkansas-Pine Bluff responded by opening the final quarter with a quick 7-0 run, featuring a layup from Pelly and a driving score from Jackson, to extinguish any hope of a comeback. The Lady Golden Lions poured in 21 points in the final period to seal the victory. Arkansas-Pine Bluff improved to 11-14 on the season and dominated the glass, securing 16 offensive rebounds that led to numerous second-chance opportunities. The teams were even in assists and steals with seven apiece, but the Lady Golden Lions’ ability to score efficiently inside and capitalize on Prairie View’s mistakes proved insurmountable. The Lady Panthers managed only 18 points off 13 Arkansas-Pine Bluff turnovers, while the home team scored 16 points off Prairie View’s 18 giveaways. The win completed a regular-season sweep for Arkansas-Pine Bluff, which defeated Prairie View 53-49 on Jan. 8. A crowd of 1,347 watched the game at the HPER Complex. Prairie View will look to end a three-game skid when it hosts Jackson State on Thursday. Arkansas-Pine Bluff, which has now won two of its last three, will host Mississippi Valley State on Saturday.

Preview: Prairie View Lady Panthers at Arkansas-Pine Bluff Lady Golden Lions PINE BLUFF, Ark. (Interstat) — The Arkansas-Pine Bluff women’s basketball team looks to build on a recent home victory when it hosts struggling Prairie View on Saturday. The Lady Golden Lions (10-14) are coming off a 68-62 win over Texas Southern on Thursday. Khaniah Gardner led the way with 24 points, continuing a strong stretch where she has averaged 16.2 points over her last five games. Gardner also posted a 20-point, 10-rebound double-double in a loss to Alabama State on Feb. 14 and grabbed 15 rebounds in a win over Alcorn State on Feb. 7. UAPB has won three of its last five games and holds a 53-49 road victory over Prairie View from Jan. 8 in the teams’ previous meeting this season. The visiting Lady Panthers (2-23) are mired in a 12-game losing streak, most recently a 67-45 home loss to Mississippi Valley State on Thursday. Guard Crystal Schultz, the team’s primary offensive threat, scored 11 points in that contest. Schultz has been a consistent scorer during the skid, averaging 14.2 points per game over her last seven outings, including a 22-point performance at Florida A&M on Feb. 5. Prairie View’s offense has consistently struggled, failing to reach 65 points in any game during its current losing streak and being held to 45 points in two of its last three contests. The Lady Golden Lions have found more success at home this season, boasting a 7-4 record in Pine Bluff compared to a 3-10 mark on the road. They will aim to exploit a Prairie View defense that allows an average of 68.2 points per game. Tip-off is set for Saturday afternoon at H.O. Clemmons Arena.