MOBILE, Ala. - A total of 42 days had passed since the University of Mobile Women's Basketball team last played a regular season game on their home court of Pharr Gymnasium. Mobile's last game at home came on Dec. 2, 2021 where they fell to Talladega College. On Thursday evening, Jan. 13, the Rams returned to the Pharr for a conference game against Brewton-Parker College. Despite the Barons of Brewton-Parker holding the lead for the majority of the game and Mobile seeing early offensive issues, the Rams managed to put in a great fourth quarter and earn a comeback win, 69-64.
Entering Thursday's game, both Mobile and Brewton-Parker had eight wins a piece to their overall records and two SSAC wins on the year. Early in the first quarter, both teams traded made shots until Brewton-Parker extended the lead to six points to end the quarter. Mobile managed to chip away at Brewton-Parker's lead several times throughout the game, but the Barons managed to hold the lead until late in the fourth quarter.
At halftime, Brewton-Parker took a nine-point deficit to the break. The Barons took advantage of Mobile's offensive struggles which saw the Rams only make eight of 45 attempts from the floor in the first two quarters. Mobile could not seem to get the ball to fall in the basket despite recording 15 offensive rebounds in the first half and earning several second-chance opportunities. The Rams' nine made free throws in the first half ultimately kept the margin within reach following the break.
In the second half, the Barons managed to increase their lead to a game-high 11 points halfway through the third quarter, but Mobile cut that deficit to seven by the end of the quarter. In the fourth quarter, it was all Mobile as the Rams exploded for 24 points in the quarter alone, taking the lead back for the first time off a made jump shot by Sidney Sims with just 47 seconds remaining. Mobile finally overcame the offensive slump as the Rams went on a 14-2 run in the final five minutes of the game. Mobile stepped up defensively and held Brewton-Parker to their last made shot with just over three minutes left. Despite trailing for nearly the entire game, the Rams came away with a five-point victory.
As a team, Mobile only shot 29% from the floor and were 0-11 from three. However, the Rams were great from the free-throw line, making 19 of 24 attempts, which contributed to Mobile keeping the game within reach. Arguably the best number of the night came in the rebound totals. Mobile out-rebounded Brewton-Parker 47-37 with 21 of those being offensive boards. Mobile recorded 17 second-chance points off offensive rebounds and scored 28 points in the paint.
Individually, Sidney Sims was one assist and two rebounds shy of a triple-double as she finished with a team-high 14 points. Sims led all players with nine assists on Thursday. Miya Kimber collected her first double-double of the season in the win, recording 10 points and 10 rebounds in the win. Kimber's 10 boards was a game-high.
Erica Jones finished one rebound shy of a double-double, finishing with 13 points, second-highest on the team and Mary Denman Luker was the fourth and final Ram to record double-digit point totals where she scored 10 points and was responsible for a couple of important lay-ups late in the game.
With the win on Thursday, Mobile has now won three-straight and improved their overall record to 9-3 on the season. The Rams' conference record also improves and sits at 3-1. Mobile will return to the court for a big conference game against Loyola University (La.) in New Orleans, La. on Jan. 15 at noon.
About the University of Mobile
The University of Mobile is a Christ-centered liberal arts and sciences institution with a vision of higher education for a higher purpose, founded to honor God by equipping students for their future professions through rigorous academic preparation and spiritual transformation. Core values are: Christ-Centered, Academically-Focused, Student-Devoted and Distinctively-Driven. The university offers on-campus and online bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in over 75 academic programs. Founded in 1961, the University of Mobile is affiliated with the Alabama Baptist State Convention and is located 10 miles north of Mobile, Alabama on a campus of over 880 acres.
For more information about the University of Mobile, visit the website at www.umobile.edu or call Enrollment Services at 1.800.WIN.RAMS or 251.442.2222.
