Lady Braves Hold Off Fisk 67-64

LORMAN, Miss. – A pair of Lady Braves registered double-doubles to lead the Alcorn State University women's basketball program over a feisty Fisk squad 67-64 Saturday at the Davey L. Whitney Complex.
 
Junior Toddriana Isler paved the way with 15 points, 10 rebounds and four assists. Junior Charisma Walker tallied 12 points and 10 rebounds.
 
Also in double-figures for Alcorn (1-6) was senior De'Asia Brown with 14 points, five rebounds and three assists. Freshman Diamond Hall turned in a solid nine points, nine rebounds, four steals, three assists and two blocks.
 
Alcorn outrebounded Fisk (3-9) 57-20. The Lady Braves also held the Bulldogs scoreless from beyond-the-arc.
 
Fisk was led by Jayla Long's 14 points. She was one of four Bulldogs in double-digits including 12 points from Andria Thomas, 11 from Lashae Brown and 10 from ILeah Chambly.
 
The Lady Braves used an early 7-0 run to start ahead 11-3 after lay-ups by Hall and Brown. A lay-up by sophomore Jasmine Chambers kept them in front 14-9 at the 3:42 mark.
 
Fisk ended the first quarter on a big 10-1 run to lead 19-15 heading into the second. Though, a jumper by Isler put Alcorn back on top 22-21 with 6:42 left in the second.
 
A small 5-0 run gave Fisk a five-point lead, but a jumper by sophomore Jamaysha Bernard at the buzzer cut the deficit to 32-29 at the intermission.
 
Down 38-33 in the third, a jumper by Walker started an 8-0 run which put Alcorn back ahead 41-38 with 3:48 to go. The Lady Braves then ended the quarter on a 7-0 spurt which included a three by Walker and a jumper by Isler as Alcorn went into the fourth leading 53-47.
 
Alcorn was still in control 58-51 midway through the fourth when Fisk responded with a 9-2 run to come back and tie it 60-60 with 2:30 remaining. Isler came back the other way and hit the go-ahead bucket inside to put the Lady Braves back ahead, and they never trailed again.
 
The Bulldogs fought until the end, and a lay-up by Long trimmed the deficit to 65-64 with 55 seconds left. After junior Jada Hargrove was fouled, she made both free throws to push the lead back up to three. On Fisk's final possession, Alcorn forced a turnover and ran out the clock for a 67-64 final.
 
The Lady Braves will be back in action Tuesday when they travel to Southern Miss for a 6 p.m. contest.
 
NOTES
- Saturday we the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
 
- Isler posted her third double-double of the year and second in the last three games.  It was her fourth double-figure scoring game and third double-digit rebounding performance of the year. Isler was 7-for-12 from the field. Her four assists were a career-high. Isler entered the game ranked top-five in the league in rebounding (7.0 rpg) and improved her average.
 
- Walker notched her first career double-double. She netted her third consecutive double-figure scoring game and fourth of the year. The 10 rebounds marked a career-high. She was 5-for-8 from the field.
 
- Brown reached double-figures for the eighth time in her career and fourth time this season. It was also her fourth double-digit outing in her last five games.
 
- As a team, Alcorn totaled season-highs in field goals made (26), total rebounds (57) and assists (22).
 
Quoting Alcorn assistant coach Ta'Neil Lewis
Opening Statement
"Close game, but we pulled it out and got the win. No team is just going to stop playing, and we went away from what was working and I think that kind of gave them hope. We forced turnovers but we didn't capitalize like we should have. We came back from the half and pulled it all together." 
 
On Walker
"We spoke previously on everyone not gelling; people trying to find out where they fit and that's one of the things Charisma is doing. She's trying to fit in and find her role on the team. Her numbers tonight aren't surprising. We've told her those are the numbers she should be giving us every single night. She's very athletic and very tall. She should be getting in there getting rebounds, getting put backs, and driving to the basket getting buckets. These are the numbers she is supposed to have and over time I think she will see, "This is my job." Her biggest upside is her athleticism and her length. She is very long and very tall for a guard."
 
On Isler's double-double
"That is what she is supposed to do. Toddriana is very good and has great foot work. She works well in the post. I think as time goes on she and Charisma will realize their roles and fill those shoes." 
 
On what Fisk was doing that gave Alcorn trouble
"Honestly, it wasn't as much as what Fisk was doing as it was us. We have to play up to our potential at all times."
 
On moving forward
"Slowly but surely everyone is getting back and healthy. These next four non-conference games are important for us. We still have some things that we need to get better at as a team on and off the court. These four games will be mental games. Hopefully, they help us going into conference." 
 
#FearTheBrave