PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas -- The Prairie View A&M women's basketball team earned the first win of the Ravon Justice era with a 69-67 win over Nicholls State Tuesday afternoon at the William J. Nicks Babydome.
Alexus Parker scored a career-high 23 points to lead four Lady Panthers in double figures. Jeronia Allen scored 15, Dominique Newman had a career-high 13 and Tori Carter11 for the Lady Panthers (1-1).
"First I have to tip my hat to Nicholls' head coach Dobee Plaisance," Justice said. "She does a really good job with having her girls ready to compete. She's had a lot of success. Our girls came out and played hard and competed. I thought they fought to the end, and some of our upper classmen stepped up and made big plays when we needed them to."
In what proved to be a decisive second quarter, PVAMU outscored Nicholls St. (0-2) 24-12. Parker (nine points) and Newman (eight) combined for 17 points for the Lady Panthers, who shot 8-12 from the field, including 4-of-4 from three-point range. Defensively, they limited the Lady Colonels to 4-of-16 shooting in outrebounding Nicholls 14-4.
"We made some key adjustments that helped us get into the groove of the game," said Justice of her team's highest-scoring quarter of the young season combined with tying the fewest points allowed in any period this season (fourth quarter at Rice). "Once we got into that groove, we were relentless in scoring the basketball."
After taking a 56-46 lead into the final period, the Lady Panthers held off a late Nicholls' rally, never relinquishing the lead. Parker made one of two free throws with one second remaining for the final margin.
"It was impressive the way we maintained our poise down the stretch," Justice said. "I give a lot of credit to the leaders on the team. I thought Alexus and Jeronia were both poised today, and that experience goes a long way."
The Lady Panthers return to action Saturday hosting Bethune-Cookman at 3 p.m.
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