Alcorn State sophomore forward Tiffany Stewart made two free throws with 9.6 seconds of play left and the Lady Braves held on to nip the Alabama A&M Lady Bulldogs 64-63 Saturday afternoon as the university celebrated those individuals who are survivors of breast cancer. The win lifted ASU past the Lady Bulldogs into third place in the SWAC with a 9-5 mark.
The Lady Bulldogs are now 8-5 in the SWAC and have lost both games played against the Lady Braves this season. . ASU beat them 61-43 in January in Huntsville, Alabama.
Overall the Lady Braves are 10-13 and will host Alabama State, whom they edged 75-69 on the road in January, at 5:30PM. A&M will face Southern Monday in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and are 12-11 overall.
Stewart’s shots gave ASU a 64-60 lead, but Lady Bulldog guard Whiquitta Tobar heaved in a long three-pointer with 0.3 seconds to play. ASU inbounded the ball successfully and the final buzzer sounded.
ASU had four players in double digit scoring, paced by junior guard Kiara Ruffin of Meridian’s 17 points. Carolinsia Crumbly followed her with 14; Renelle Richmond scored 11 while Stewart added 10.
For A&M, Tobar was the only player to score in double figures and led all scorers with 26 points. Nesfayia Watkins and Danielle O’Neal each scored nine. Tobar led all rebounders with nine but ASU outrebounded them 42-31. Stewart and Sharnika Breedlove each had eight boards for the Lady Braves.
