Women's Basketball | 11/10/2016 2:55:00 PM

Lady Braves Commence 2016-17 Season Friday at Grand Canyon

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PHOENIX – The Alcorn State University women's basketball program will head west to open its 2016-17 campaign Friday, facing Grand Canyon University at GCU Arena on an 8 p.m. [CT] tip.

The Lady Braves (0-0) are coming off a seventh-place season in the Southwestern Athletic Conference after finishing 8-10 in league play. They were also picked to finish seventh in this year's SWAC Preseason Poll. 

Alcorn was ahead 49-40 after three quarters with second-seeded Southern in the quarterfinals of last year's SWAC Tournament. The Lady Jaguars put together a 21-8 scoring advantage in the fourth quarter to edge the Lady Braves 61-57, ultimately ending their season. 

Senior Henrietta Wells headlines this year's roster as she was named to the Preseason All-Conference First Team. A dominant 6-1 presence in the paint, Wells totaled 84 blocks last season. Consequently, the Lady Braves recorded 4.6 blocks per game, which ranked second in the SWAC. 

Wells is one of three student-athletes returning for the Lady Braves that started at least 13 games last season along with fellow senior guard Tori Spann (14) and sophomore guard Brianna Tolliver (13).

The Lopes (0-0) are coming off a 16-15 (8-6 WAC) season and were picked third in the Preseason Western Athletic Conference Poll. They return two starters including guard Jessica Gajewski who averaged a team-high 12.5 points per game last year. Gajewski was named to the Preseason All-WAC First Team.

PRESEASON NOTES

• Alcorn is 1-5 in its last six season openers, snapping a streak of five straight losses with a win last season against Delta State

• Grand Canyon is the first WAC opponent for the Lady Braves under head coach Courtney Pruitt 

• Henrietta Wells returns as Alcorn's blocking specialist. The 2016-17 Preseason All-SWAC First Team Center provided the Lady Braves with 2.9 blocks per contest last season, good for second in the SWAC. 

• Brianna Tolliver has proven to be a viable scorer, dropping 10-plus points in eight games last season, the most of any returner. Tori Spann achieved the feat six times. 

• The number 70 has a significant impact on Alcorn's win-loss record. The Lady Braves are 7-1 when scoring 70-plus points and 1-10 when allowing 70-plus dating back to last season

• The five returners for the Lady Braves, Brianna Luton, Talisa Sherman, Spann, Tolliver and Wells, combined for about 26 points per game last season.

• Alcorn must find production to replace the void left by 2015-16 SWAC Player of the Year Norianna Haynes, who nearly averaged a double-double per game (23.0 points/9.7 rebounds). 

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