Grambling State beat Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 83-81 in overtime, in the first round of the Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament on Tuesday at the Toyota Center in Houston.
Grambling State (11-19) will advance to the quarterfinals to meet No. 2 seed Texas Southern at 10 a.m. today.
Grambling’s Joanna Miller led the Lady Tigers with a game-high 27 points. Miller made three crucial shots from the free-throw line with a minute left in regulation to give the Lady Tigers a three-point lead over UAPB (3-26) at 75-72. A last-minute three-pointer by Christina Lasane tied the game at 75-75 and sent the game into overtime.
Miller scored the first two points in overtime before UAPB’s Amber Haggie responded with a jumper. The remainder of the game saw three ties and two lead changes before Dennisha Chambers joined Miller in scoring the final points to seal the victory.
Chambers finished with 19 points while Tyler Anderson recorded 14 points and 16 rebounds for the Lady Tigers.
Cassidy Wright scored 24 points to lead UAPB while Christina Lasane added 23 and six rebounds.
Destiny Ham added 11 points for the Lady Lions, who lost their final nine games of the season in Coach Nate Kilbert’s second season.
Sports, Pages 24 on 03/12/2014