PHARR GYMNASIUM | MOBILE, Ala. – It was yet another Saturday in the Pharr as Mobile looked set to take on the Barons of Brewton-Parker Christian University. In what would wind up as a contest of intense physicality, Mobile and Brewton-Parker battled closely as both teams looked to improve their place within the SSAC Women's Basketball standings. There would be a total of 52 fouls called in the game with both sides committing a high number of charging fouls early on. Despite the physical nature of the game, the Rams never backed down and would ultimately come away with their third straight home win.
The first quarter scoring got off to a hot start for the Rams as Deja Pryor hit a 3-pointer before Jada Johnson converted a lay-up on the next possession. Just under halfway through the first quarter, Emilee Duet poked away the ball for a steal and went straight for the lay-up on the other end. On the next possession, Johnson would take it up the court herself before hitting her signature jump shot over the defender for two more points. With 2:32 left to go in the quarter, McKenna Sinon and Johnson would take off down the court, and following a nice move from Sinon to shake off her defender, she would assist Johnson on a 2-point jump shot at the top of the key. Not long after, Cierra Highland would check in to the game, immediately going up the court and scoring on a lay-up. At the end of the first quarter, the Rams would hold a 22-13 lead over the Barons.
The second quarter would see both sides become more aggressive in their approaches as they pushed to take control of the game before halftime. Mobile's best efforts of the second quarter would come through Jada Johnson who opened the scoring for her side with a jumper that she has seemed to perfect over the last few games. Holding a 26-17 lead with 6:17 left to go in the half, Cierra Highland cut to the basket for a lay-up to add onto Mobile's tally. With less than two minutes to go before halftime, Jarniya Maddox swung the ball to Emilee Duet in the paint for a lay-up, while just 30 seconds later, Deja Pryor would knock down a wide open 3-point shot to see Mobile lead 38-25 at the half. Following the break, Maddox passed the ball over to Johnson in the middle, who stepped right and knocked down another jump shot. Brewton-Parker would really test the Rams in this second half cutting to the lane, drawing fouls, scoring lay-ups and Mobile struggled with fouling this quarter. The score at the end of the third would read 53-48, with only a 5-point lead for Mobile heading into the final 10 minutes.
In the 4th quarter, the Rams gave everything they had left as they could begin to feel the second conference win in a row heading their way. Emilee Duet and Cierra Highland would made back-to-back lay-ups before Highland went 1-1 at the free throw line to extend the lead out to 8 points. Not wanting to take the foot off the gas just yet, Jada Johnson forced a steal before heading down the court to lay it in for a 10 point lead. The final nail in the coffin for Brewton-Parker would come from Johnson as she drained a corner 3 with 5:37 left to go. The Barons would be unable to mount a comeback in the time remaining and Mobile would claim their second SSAC win of the season with a final score of 70-60 in front of their home crowd.
Jada Johnson held a double-double posting 25 points, 11 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 block. Deja Pryor scored 16 points, going a perfect 10-10 on free throws. Emilee Duet scored 9 points with 2 steals while Cierra Highland scored 9 points with 1 block.
Up Next for the Rams
The Rams will round out their time at home with a conference meeting against Life University on Saturday, January 24th. That game can be watched live, for free, on Urban Edge Network with tip-off scheduled for 12:00pm CT!
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About the University of Mobile
The University of Mobile is a Christ-centered university pursuing excellence "For Christ & His Kingdom." With a vision to "Multiply Kingdom Leaders for the Glory of God and the Good of the World," the university honors God by equipping students for their future professions in an environment where they are known. The university was founded in 1961 and is affiliated with the Alabama Baptist State Convention. Located 10 miles north of Mobile, Alabama, on a campus of over 880 acres, UM offers associate, bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in over 75 academic programs. Learn more at umobile.edu/um-info and connect with UM on social media @univofmobile, or call Enrollment Services at 1.800.WIN.RAMS or 251.442.2222.
