THE HILL | Alisha Wilson scored her 1000th career point as the Bulldogs topped the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Golden Lions 66-52 on Saturday afternoon. Alabama A&M is now 2-0 in the opening weekend of Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) play.
The Bulldogs opened the contest with eight answered points, and never let the Golden Lions get within 10 points for the rest of the competition. Senior guard Darian Burgin led the Bulldog offense, scoring a season-high 18 points, including going three of five from beyond the arc and five of six from the line. Wilson picked up 13 points and 14 rebounds for her sixth double-double of the season, and fourth in a row. She also picked up a game high four steals. Mailyn Wilkerson also finished in double figures, picking up 10 points, while Jaiyah Harris-Smith added five assists.
The Golden Lions were paced by Jailah Pelly’s 16 points, three steals and two assists. Kristyna Boyd added a team-high 10 rebounds to her nine points. Each team saw foul trouble, with Alisha Wilson and Empress Roberts fouling out, and a pair of players from each bench in the danger zone. Pine Bluff ends the opening weekend of conference play falling 0-2. The Bulldogs improve to 29-14 in the all-time series against UAPB, and Coach Thornton is 7-0 in match ups against her former program.
HOW IT HAPPENED The Bulldogs took a quick 8-0 lead courtesy of a jumper from Wilson and a pair of triples from Burgin, which forced the first UAPB stoppage
AAMU ballooned their lead to 10 with just under three minutes remaining in the first frame
Wilkerson sunk a pair of three pointers and Alisha Wilson earned her 1000th career point to end the first quarter ahead 15 points (20-5)
A layup and foul shot from UAPB threatened to close the gap but AAMU still entered the timeout ahead 31-11
The Bulldogs scored more points (17) in the second quarter than the Golden Lions scored in the game up to that points (15), and the teams entered the half with Alabama A&M in the lead, 37-15
Three Golden Lions scored going into the first media timeout of the half, but a shot from beyond the arc from Pendleton maintained the Bulldogs’ 24-point lead
The Golden Lions outscored the Bulldogs 17-16 in the third frame, but the Bulldogs entered the final quarter ahead 53-32
Shelomi Sanders scored a pair from a left side jumper
UAPB tightened the score to just 13 before Burgin sunk an uncontested three-pointer from far out
The Golden Lions scored once more but the Bulldogs claimed the contest 66-52
GAME NOTES
- Alabama A&M shot 43.1 percent (22-of-51) from the field and 30.4 percent (7-of-23) from behind the arc
- AAMU went 15-25 (60.0 percent) from the line
- The Bulldogs grabbed 35 total rebounds, 28 of them defensively
- Darian Burgin scored a season-high 18 points
- Wilson picked up 13 points and 14 rebounds for her sixth double-double of the season, and fourth in a row, in addition to a game high four steals.
- Mailyn Wilkerson picked up 10 points, while Jaiyah Harris-Smith added five assists.
- The Bulldogs finished with 20 points in the paint, 20 bench points, and 16 points from 21 Golden Lion turnovers
- The Golden Lions shot 34.5 percent (20-of-58) from the field, 57.1 percent from the line (8-of-14) and 44.4 percent (4-9) from behind the arc
- Pine Bluff grabbed 35 rebounds
- Jailah Pelly scored 16 points, three steals and two assists.
- Kristyna Boyd contributed a team-high 10 rebounds and nine points
- UAPB saw 22 points in the paint, 26 bench points and tallied just seven points from 21 Bulldog turnovers
The Maroon and White will travel to Mississippi for its first conference road test. The Bulldogs will face the Jackson State Tigers on Thursday, January 9th and the Alcorn State Braves on Saturday in game one of a double header. Thursday’s tip-off is set for 5 p.m. and the Bulldogs will take the court at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
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