Women's Basketball | 11/8/2019 8:58:00 AM

Lady Braves To Face Pair Of 2018-19 Postseason Squads At SFA, UNT

Alcorn Game Notes | Live Video (Stephen F. Austin) | Live Stats (Stephen F. Austin) | Live Video (North Texas) | Live Stats (North Texas)
 
LORMAN, Miss. – The Alcorn State University women's basketball program will face a pair of tough road tests Saturday at Stephen F. Austin and Monday at North Texas.

The Lady Braves (0-1) will try to build off of its huge fourth quarter comeback effort against Memphis Tuesday when it outscored the Lady Tigers 19-9 and almost erased a 16-point deficit.
 
Senior Jada Hargrove picked up right where she left off in 2018-19, pacing the Lady Braves in points (13), rebounds (7) and assists (2) while swiping two steals.

Junior college transfer LaRae Rascoe was impressive in her first game for the purple and gold, racking up 11 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals in a well-rounded affair.

Freshman Cayla Obillo did not record a point or rebound in her collegiate debut but posted a team-best three steals and two assists during only 16 minutes of action in Memphis. 

Stephen F. Austin (1-0) brings back eight letter winners from last season's squad that went 25-7 while earning a WNIT bid. The Ladyjacks are projected to finish second in the Southland Conference and won its season opener on the road at Tulsa (67-63).

SFA returns four of the club's primary starters from a year ago including Stephanie Visscher, Riley Harvey, Alyssa Mayfield and Marissa Banfield. Each player averaged at least 6.5 points per contest last season.

"SFA is a well-coached team that does an excellent job executing in the half-court," said head coach Courtney G. Pruitt. "We must defend, not get into foul trouble, make layups and free throws to even have a chance in this game. Especially since we are playing on the road."

North Texas (0-1) will rely on ten newcomers, six freshmen and four transfers, to try to recreate last season's successful campaign as the Mean Green made the second round of the Women's Basketball Invitational (WBI).

Their season started on Thursday with UNT dropping its home/season opener to Mid America Christian by a score of 61-59.

The team does return its top rebounder from last season in Madison Townley (7.0 per game) but most of its production is expected to come from the fresh faces that make up the bulk of the roster.

"UNT is coming off a fantastic season. They have great post play which will be challenging because of our size. However, we will be able to match their size with our intensity," said head coach Courtney G. Pruitt. "This road trip is really going to prepare us for conference play. We must learn to be successful on the road."

NOTES
- Alcorn is going for its first win over Stephen F. Austin since 1983-84 when the Lady Braves won 88-74. It is the 12th meeting between the two programs.

- The Lady Braves are going for its first win over North Texas since 1990-91 and its third victory in the all-time series. This will be the seventh meeting between the two programs.

- Alcorn finished the 2018-19 season eighth in the NCAA with 16 offensive rebounds per game, a figure that led the SWAC.
 
- The Lady Braves were a top-three team in the conference last year for rebounds per game (40.17) and assists per game (12.0) while top-five in the league for assists (361), rebounds (1205), fewest fouls (600) and personal fouls per game (20.0).
 
- Alcorn is projected to finish ninth in the SWAC, receiving 36 points and placing ahead of Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
 
- Four different Alcorn student-athletes registered double-doubles in 2018-19 including senior Toddriana Isler (3), junior Jamaysha Bernard (1), senior Charisma Walker (1) and sophomore Diamond Hall (1).

- Bernard was named to the Preseason All-SWAC Second-Team, making half of her shots from the field (45-90) while leading the team with 23 blocks. The six-footer from New Iberia, Louisiana averaged 5.0 rebounds and 4.0 points per game along with 19 steals and 10 assists.

- JUCO Transfer Nyenkeer Malwal averaged a team-best 11.5 points per game her sophomore season at Jacksonville College and was a part of the team's 21-6 campaign her freshman year.

- The 2019-2020 freshman class consists of Cayla Obillo, Nia McCalphia, Aja Wheeler and Tyginae Wright.
 
- Pruitt made an immediate impact when she arrived at Alcorn and coached Norianna Haynes to the 2015-16 SWAC Player of the Year honor. The following year in 2016-17, she coached Henrietta Wells to SWAC Defensive Player of the Year accolades and Alexus Freeman to SWAC Newcomer of the Year. Pruitt coached Wells in becoming the program's all-time leading shot blocker with 242.
 
- Pruitt revamped her coaching staff for 2019-20 with the additions of Andre Payne and Mike Pittman. Payne last served as Mississippi Valley State's Men's Basketball Head Coach where he made four SWAC Tournaments and coached two All-SWAC performers. Pittman spent last season at Paul Quinn and led the Lady Tigers to the USCAA Final Four. Also on staff is student assistant De'Asia Brown. She led Alcorn in points per game (12.3) and three-pointers (38) last season.

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