Lewis Delivers Monster Double-Double as Alabama A&M Runs Past UAPB 58-48 in SWAC Opener

Following a two-week layoff, Alabama A&M (3-8, 1-0 SWAC) shook off some early rust and senior forward Dariauna Lewis (Omaha, Neb.) delivered an epic performance to earn a 58-48 victory at Arkansas-Pine Bluff (4-7, 0-1 SWAC) in their Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) opener and an NCAA Division I women’s basketball game on Monday, January 3.
 
Lewis had a tremendous evening with 26 points on 8-of-10 shooting from the field and a perfect 10-of-10 at the foul line while yanking down 14 rebounds to go with three steals to lead the Bulldogs. Graduate guard Nigeria Jones (Lincoln, Neb.) would join her with 10 points, all in one first quarter stretch, and junior guard Jill Harris (Navarre, Fla.) finished with six points, five assists and four rebounds.
 
They were joined by graduate forward Teliyah Jeter (Taylors, S.C.) with six points and seven boards and sophomore guard Darian Burgin (Cincinnati, Ohio) with four points, six caroms, three assists and a pair of steals. Senior center Jada Clowers (Macon, Ga.) hauled in seven boards to go with two blocks and freshman guard Zhordan Shannon (Smyrna, Tenn.) chipped in with six points.
 
UAPB would score the first six points as part of an opening 12-4 run over the first 5:56 before A&M responded in force. Over the next 2:14 they barreled out to a 17-12 lead behind a demonstrative 13-0 run fueled by 10 points and a pair of threes from Jones. The Golden Lions would then score five of the next seven points to close the period down just 19-17.
 
Alabama A&M would bounce back to a five-point advantage before back-to-back traditional three-point plays flipped the script and put UAPB up 23-22 at the 8:20 mark. Following a 2:41 scoreless drought for both teams, that lead would not last long as the Bulldogs scored seven straight to retake the lead at 29-23 with just under three minutes to go in the half. Arkansas-Pine Bluff then used a 7-2 run in the final 2:56 to cut it to 31-30 at the break.
 
The Bulldogs would respond coming out of the half as they scored six in a row for a 37-30 lead by the 8:10 mark before the Golden Lions got their offense going with 6:44 on the clock. At that point they put together a 10-0 burst in the next three-plus minutes to pull back ahead at 40-37.
 
As it had been the entire night, it would continue to be a back-and-forth affair as A&M scored four straight to take a one point advantage only to see Khadijah Brown put UAPB back ahead with a bucket. An old school three-point play by Lewis then made sure the Bulldogs would head to the fourth holding a 44-42 margin.
 
Trailing by four in the opening minute of the final frame, the Golden Lions would get four straight points from Joyce Kennerson and a pair of Brown free throws to take a 48-46 lead with 7:40 to play. That, however, would be all they would get as they would not score the rest of the way.
 
In the last seven minutes-plus Alabama A&M dominated defensively with zero points allowed while scoring 12 straight of their own – eight in a row coming from Lewis. That clutch performance would anchor what would end up being a 58-48 victory.
 
UAPB was led by Brown with a near double-double of 11 points and nine boards along with a pair of blocks while Maya Peat wasn’t far behind with 11 points and seven caroms. Kennerson notched nine points, six rebounds and a game-high tying five assists to round out the top performers.
 
The Bulldogs are right back in action as they head to Itta Bena, Mississippi to take on Mississippi Valley State on Wednesday, January 5. Game time is slated for 5:30 p.m.