Rebels Pull Away Late From Scrappy Lady Braves

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Alcorn State University women's basketball program put up a 40-minute fight against SEC opponent Ole Miss, keeping it close but ultimately falling 73-55.
 
The Lady Braves (3-5) have got quality scoring performances from a pair of seniors Jada Hargrove and Toddriana Isler, who co-led the team with 17 points each. Junior LaRae Rascoe chipped in 13 points as well.

Isler's total was one off of her career-best while also fronting the club in rebounds at eight and connecting on 8-of-12 (.667) shots.

Hargrove and Rascoe have now combined to record 13 double-digit scoring outings in 16 games between the two this season.

Hargrove and freshman Cayla Obillo shared the team lead with four assists on the evening.

Ole Miss (5-2) saw Dominique Banks accumulate 15 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks in a double-double effort. Valerie Nesbitt was the top scorer (20 points) and defender (three steals) while Jayla Alexander had a game-high five assists.

The first half of the opening quarter saw a tight contest as the Lady Braves trailed by one (7-6) at the 4:25 mark. Ole Miss went on to score eight unanswered to end the frame as the Rebels were ahead 15-6 after ten minutes.

U of M began the second by adding nine more points onto its lead to see the margin widen to 18 (24-6). Alcorn started to heat up over the final four minutes of the half as the purple and gold went on a 10-1 surge to close the quarter and saw its deficit cut to nine at halftime (26-15).

Both teams came out of the locker rooms making their shots, as the two sides both logged 20 points apiece in the third quarter as the Lady Braves kept the Rebels within single digits heading into the final frame, trailing 45-36.

A triple by Jada Hargrove to open the fourth shrunk the gap down to six but that was as close as the Lady Braves would get. Ole Miss expanded the advantage to as much as 21 at times, gradually putting the game out of reach and claiming a 73-55 victory.

Alcorn has another shot at a high-major program when it faces the Clemson Tigers tomorrow evening at 7 p.m. in the second game of the Daytona Beach Invitational.
 
NOTES
- This was the 16th meeting all-time between the Lady Braves and Rebels, with Alcorn dropping to 1-15 in the series. The purple and gold defeated Ole Miss 70-66 during the 1979-80 season.

- Alcorn won the turnover battle as it committed only 12 while forcing 22 Rebel mistakes.

- Ole Miss lit up the Ocean Center, going an absurd 30-for-58 (.517) on its field-goal attempts.
 
Quoting Alcorn head coach Courtney G. Pruitt

Overall Statement:
"We played hard and we were able to force turnovers but we just couldn't get our shots to fall tonight. Very proud of the ladies' defensive effort."

#FearTheBrave