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HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The Alcorn State University women's basketball program will spend its weekend at the Lady Eagle Thanksgiving Classic, hosted by the University of Southern Mississippi, beginning with a 10 a.m. contest Friday against the Lady Eagles at Reed Green Coliseum.
The other two teams, the University of Louisiana-Lafayette and Southeast Missouri State University will face off at noon. The losers of the two games will play in a consolation game Saturday at 1:30 p.m. with the two winners battling in the championship at 4 p.m.
"It'll be a good game because it's two defensive schools," said head coach Courtney Pruitt. "We're going to put it all out on the floor and let the chips fall where they may. It's a good tournament to play in because it's right in our backyard. [USM] Coach [Joye Lee-] McNellus has a great ballclub. It's just a great measuring stick for us to see where we are."
The Lady Braves (0-3) suffered a 71-57 setback against UCA in its most recent contest.
Senior Brianna Luton scored a career-high 19 points, including a 5-of-6 performance from 3-point range. She contributed to an Alcorn squad that sank 10 treys, a feat that has not been achieved by the Lady Braves dating back to the 2010-11 season. Consequently, Alcorn currently fronts the SWAC with 6.7 3-pointers made per contest.
Fellow senior Henrietta Wells was three blocks away from a triple-double, accumulating 10 points and 11 rebounds, marking the fourth double-digit rebounding performance of her career. Wells ranks atop the league with 10.3 rebounds and 3.7 blocks per contest.
Junior guard Alexus Freeman dished out five assists against the Sugar Bears, marking the second time in three games a Lady Braves totaled at least five assists. Tia Sanders also had five at Arizona.
This will mark the first time Alcorn and USM face off during the Pruitt ERA. The Lady Braves dropped a 73-61 contest last season to UL-Lafayette (Dec. 29, 2015; Lafayette, La.).
The Lady Eagles are 3-1 on the season with wins over the University of New Orleans, William Carey University and SWAC foe Alabama State University - their only loss came in a 86-67 bout to Tulane University.
USM (3-1) was tabbed eighth of 14 in the Conference USA Preseason Poll.
Senior guard Brittanny Dinkins leads the Lady Eagles with 17.8 points per game. Combo guard Jayla King is also in double digits with 11.3. King also averages 8.0 rebounds per game.
Although it's early in the season, USM ranks first in the C-USA in scoring defense (55.2 points allowed/game) and turnover margin (+10.0).
Listen to "Interview Alcorn Womens Basketball Coach Courtney Pruitt" on Spreaker.
NOTES
- Brianna Tolliver has proven to be a viable scorer, dropping 10-plus points in eight games last season, the most of any returner. She dropped 12 on a 5-of-10 effort against UCA before fouling out. Tolliver has made incredible strides in her long-range game, converting 4-of-9 attempts from behind the arc this year after making just one in 21 attempts last season
- The Lady Braves have outscored every opponent this season in second-chance points, totaling 40-26
- The number
70 has a significant impact on Alcorn's W-L record. The Lady Braves are 7-1 when scoring 70-plus points and 1-13 when allowing 70-plus dating back to last season
- Freeman's five assists against UCA vaulted her to second in the SWAC in assists per game (3.7)
- Luton ranks fourth in the league in field goal percentage (.563) and 3-point field goal percentage (.545)
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