Prairie View A&M pulled off a thrilling 57-52 overtime upset against Bethune-Cookman in the opening round of the Southwestern Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament on Tuesday at Gateway Center Arena.
The No. 10-seeded Lady Panthers (10-18, 6-12 SWAC) overcame a late-game rally from No. 7-seeded Bethune-Cookman (10-21, 7-11 SWAC) to secure their spot in the second round against Texas Southern.
Prairie View relied on clutch performances from Amauri Williams, who scored eight of her 12 points in overtime, and CJ Wilson, who added key free throws to seal the victory.
Bethune-Cookman forced overtime in dramatic fashion when Daimoni Dorsey hit a corner three-pointer with just three seconds left in regulation, tying the game at 45. It was the Wildcats’ only successful three-point shot of the game.
However, Prairie View’s defensive adjustments and offensive execution proved decisive in the extra period.
Williams’ baby skyhook and free throws extended Prairie View’s lead to 54-49 late in overtime. Despite a free throw from Bethune-Cookman’s Shamari Phillips, the Wildcats struggled offensively down the stretch. Chanelle McDonald managed to score one final free throw for Bethune-Cookman, but it was not enough to overcome Prairie View’s disciplined play.
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Bethune-Cookman’s Asianae Nicholson led her team with a double-double, recording 14 points and 16 rebounds, while Kayla White contributed 13 points.
For Prairie View, Nyam Thornton and Adreanna Waddle provided pivotal moments, with Thornton hitting crucial free throws late in regulation.
Prairie View head coach Sandy Pugh expressed pride in her team’s resilience.
“We’re happy to be marching on. I haven’t been past the opening round for a while now… We are proud to be here”24.
The Panthers now prepare for their third matchup of the season against No. 2-seeded Texas Southern on Wednesday.
This story was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by HBCU Sports journalists.
