NATCHITOCHES, La. – In a game that was much closer than the final score indicated, Northwestern State was able to break away from the Alcorn State University women's basketball program in the final two minutes to take a 78-65 decision Tuesday at Prather Coliseum.
An experienced NSU (2-2) squad, which returned all five starters from a year ago, led the Lady Braves (0-4) by four when it scored the final nine points of the game.
The closely contested match featured six ties and eight lead changes. Alcorn out-rebounded NSU 49-39 including a 21-11 edge in offensive boards.
Four of five starters scored in double-figures for Alcorn. Senior
De'Asia Brown turned in her second straight big outing with 16 points and four assists. Freshman
Diamond Hall was one rebound shy of a double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds.
Junior
Toddriana Isler also neared a double-double with 12 points and eight rebounds. Fellow junior
Jada Hargrove logged 39 minutes for just the second time in her career and posted 11 points and five rebounds. Junior
Charisma Walker ended with nine points and nine rebounds.
NSU was guided by RaVon Nero who registered a game-high 25 points on 9-of-18 shooting.
The free throw line played a large part in the game as the Lady Braves were just 10-of-21 (.476), while the Lady Demons shot 20-for-28 (.714).
Alcorn started the game ahead 10-5 after buckets by Hargrove and Brown. A lay-up by Walker kept them ahead 14-12 late in the first, but NSU scored the final four points of the quarter to go up 16-14.
The Lady Demons leaped ahead 24-18 early in the second, but a lay-up by Isler and a pair of free throws by freshman
Rayven Patin trimmed the deficit to 24-22 at the 5:40 mark. Alcorn came back to tie it 34-34 with 51 seconds left in the half on two more free throws by Hall. Though, for the second straight quarter NSU scored the final four points to lead 38-34 at the break.
The Lady Braves used a 6-0 spurt in the third, capped by a lay-up by Brown, to even the score at 40 with 8:10 remaining. Though, the Lady Demons answered with a 9-0 run midway through the quarter to take a 49-40 advantage. Alcorn responded with back-to-back threes by Brown, and trailed 56-51 heading into the fourth.
A jumper by Brown trimmed the deficit to 58-55 with 8:16 to go in the fourth. After a pair of NSU baskets, Hargrove drilled a three to make it a 64-60 game with 4:16 remaining. A long-range shot by Hall kept it a 69-65 spread at the 2:27 mark.
NSU scored on each of its final five possessions of the game, while Alcorn went 0-for-3 from the field and 0-for-2 from the free throw line during the stretch. The Lady Demons further extended their lead from the free throw line after the Lady Braves were forced to foul.
The Lady Braves will have eight days off before their next game on Wednesday, Nov. 28 when they host Central Arkansas at 5:30 p.m. at the Davey L. Whitney Complex.
NOTES
- Alcorn and Northwestern State have now split the last four meetings 2-2. The Lady Demons lead the all-time series 7-4.
- The Lady Braves made 25 field goals and dished out 15 assists which were both season-highs.
- Brown notched her sixth career double-figure scoring game and second in a row. She was coming off a career-high 19 points against Southeastern Louisiana. Brown's four assists matched a career-high. She also played a career-high 36 minutes.
- Hargrove etched her eighth career double-digit scoring outing and third this year. Her 39 minutes matched a career-high set last season against Stephen F. Austin.
- Isler tallied her second double-figure scoring game this year. Her six made field goals matched a career-high. Isler played 36 minutes which was one above her previous high of 35 against Lane College.
- Hall recorded her second double-figure scoring game. Her 13 points topped her previous high of 10 set in her last outing against SLU. She pulled down nine rebounds which was also career-high.
#FearTheBrave
