PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas- In their final non-conference game of the season, the Prairie View A&M Lady Panthers pulled off an upset of significant importance, knocking off the Rice Owls on Friday, December 28th. With the win the Lady Panthers beat Rice for the first time since 1979 which was the series inaugural meeting.
The game was a defensive tug-of-war in which Prairie View A&M was the beneficiary. The Lady Panthers forced the Owls into 30 turnovers which subsequently turned into 19 PVAMU points.
Prairie View A&M took a 25-22 advantage into intermission. In the second half of play, Rice gained a three point lead of 30-27 at the 14:20 mark. Prairie View A&M regrouped and regained control of the lead for good at the 2:41 mark of the final stanza taking a 46-44 advantage.
Down the stretch the Lady Panthers got several key free throws from center Chari Smith which helped seal the victory. Smith converted one-of-two free throw attempts with four seconds remaining making the game a two possession affair for the Owls with time dwindling away.
For the game, sophomores Candice Thomas and Gaati Werema paced the Lady Panthers offensive attack scoring 12 points apiece. Werema finished just one rebound shy of picking up a double-double.
Prairie View A&M will now get set to open up conference play on Saturday, January 5th as they welcome the Lady Jags of Southern University into town. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. at the William Nicks Building.
