AAMU Fends Off Career-Highs from Lady Braves

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Junior Jada Hargrove registered a career-high, and freshman Diamond Hall matched her career-high for the Alcorn State University women's basketball program, but it wasn't enough as Alabama A&M turned in a big offensive night in an 87-69 final at T.M. Elmore Gym.
 
Alcorn's (3-17, 2-6 SWAC) 69 points were the second-most it scored this season, but on the flip side, the 87 points marked a season-high for AAMU (9-9, 4-3 SWAC).
 
Hargrove drained 20 points to go along with four rebounds and four assists. She was five-of-nine from three-point range. Hargrove becomes the first Lady Brave to score 20 points in a game this season and make five three-pointers. She played all 40 minutes.
 
Hall tied her career-high of 13 points. She was four-for-seven field the field and three-for-five from beyond-the-arc.
 
Also in double-figures was senior De'Asia Brown with 13 points, and junior Toddriana Isler with 10 points and nine rebounds. It was Isler's second game back from injury after missing the previous five.
 
The Bulldogs were led by Elexis Evans who came off the bench to record 17 points and 19 rebounds. Nigeria Jones ended with 15 points and Deshawna Harper 13.
 
The Lady Braves started slow as their only field goal in the first six minutes was a lay-up by Isler. AAMU was able to build a 16-5 lead when Hall answered with a three-pointer at the 3:13 mark. A jumper by Hargrove with nine seconds left had Alcorn trailing 21-14 at the end of the first.
 
The Bulldogs scored the first five points of the second quarter to stay ahead 26-14. A 5-0 spurt by Alcorn, which included a three-pointer by Hall and a pair of free throws by Brown got it back down to 33-25 with 5:46 to go. The Lady Braves further trimmed the deficit to 38-34 on three by Hargrove with 3:05 remaining. Though, AAMU was able to grab a 49-42 advantage at the half.
 
Alcorn was down 54-58 in the third when the Bulldogs went on a 7-1 run to take a 62-49 lead with 2:24 left. It was the only defensive quarter of the game as the Lady Braves were limited to eight points.
 
Early in the fourth, it looked as if AAMU was pulling away with a 70-55 lead at the 7:06 mark. However, the Lady Braves had one last push in them as three-pointers by Hargrove and Hall chipped the deficit down to 70-63 at the 4:42 media timeout. Though, the Bulldogs were able to fight off the comeback attempt and ended the game on a 9-0 run.
 
Alcorn will begin a three-game home-stand Saturday when it hosts Southern at 3 p.m. at the Davey L. Whitney Complex.
 
NOTES
- The Lady Braves are now 5-2 against AAMU under head coach Courtney G. Pruitt who is in her fourth season.
 
- The 69 points scored were the second-most this year, only behind a 73-point effort used to beat Mississippi Valley State.
 
- Alcorn made 10 three-pointers as a team which were the second-most this year. The Lady Braves hit 11 two nights ago at Alabama State.
 
- Hargrove topped her previous career-high of 17 points set twice previously. She scored in double-figures for the 16th time in her career, 11th time this season and fourth time in the last five games. Hargrove played 40 minutes for the fourth time this year. Her five three-pointers bested her previous career-high of three set twice before.
 
- Hall tied her career-high of 13 points set against Northwestern State earlier this year. Her trio of three-pointers were a career-high. It was her sixth double-digit outing of the season.
 
- Isler was one rebound away from a double-double. It was her first double-figure scoring game since Dec. 11, 2018 at Southern Miss as she's coming back from an injury. Isler reached double-figures for the sixth time this year.
 
- Brown continued her streak of scoring in double-figures in every conference game this year. It was her 18th career double-digit performance and 14th this season.
 
Quoting Alcorn head coach Courtney G. Pruitt
Opening Statement
"We just couldn't get anything going, and we were having trouble stopping Elexis Evans in the paint. We dug ourselves a hole because we got in early foul trouble. We did everything we could to keep them off the glass and box out, but it seemed like every time we did, we'd get hit with a quick foul. We were subbing a lot trying to change looks, but battling the foul trouble while keeping a balance on the floor was a challenge for us tonight. We couldn't go small because they were scoring in the paint, and we weren't focused enough on playing defense in the post."
 
On Alcorn's offense
"Our team battled well tonight. We had four score in double-figures, but we still couldn't overcome poor free throw shooting and missed lay-ups. We've got to be able to make free throws and I kept telling the girls that it's all mental. Even in spite of the foul trouble, we could have won if it weren't for the free throws and lay-ups. We missed too many chip shots, and we have to be able to make the ones that they're giving us."
 
On Jada Hargrove
"Jada knows that we have to have her shooting the ball well. She's got to be a scoring point guard for us, and she's done a great job stepping up. We're very happy about that, but we've got to be able to turn the corner as a team. We have to go back to the drawing board - we're still in it, we just have to keep fighting."
 
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