LORMAN, Miss. – The Alcorn State University women's basketball team ended the most recent road trip in style picking up a three-point win at Grambling State. The Lady Braves will look to carry that momentum into home Southwestern Athletic Conference matchups this week facing Mississippi Valley State on Saturday at 3 p.m. and Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Monday at 1 p.m. inside Davey L. Whitney Complex.
Alcorn (2-5, 2-1 SWAC) held a three-point lead at halftime and ended up winning by that same margin taking the 61-58 win at Grambling State. Deja Mitchell posted a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Cayla Obillo added 10 points. Grambling State made a push to take a five-point lead midway through the third quarter, but after that, Alcorn outscored the Lady Tigers 33-25 to take the victory.
Points off turnovers helped swing momentum with the Lady Braves holding a 25-17 edge. In total, Alcorn forced 28 turnovers, 18 coming via steals.
Alcorn enters the week averaging 53.6 points per game, shooting 34.7 percent from the field (136-392), 24.8 percent from three (25-101) and 78-126 (61.9) from the foul line. Kirdis Clark leads the way averaging 11.3 points per game, along with leading the team in assists (19), steals (16) and blocks (3). Mitchell adds 8.6 points per game and a team-high 5.7 rebounds per contest. Obillo adds 8.1 points per game and is second on the team in steals with 15. Diamond Hall (5.8) and Aysha Kirkland (5.4) round out the five players averaging at least five points per game.
Opponents are averaging 73.1 points per game, making 196-392 (50) from the field, 47-102 (46.1) from three and 73-116 (62.9) from the foul line. Alcorn enters the week sitting just a game back of Alabama State (3-0) for first in the SWAC and are one of just four teams so far with at least two conference wins.
Alcorn ranks second in the SWAC in steals at 11.71 per game, fourth in turnover margin (0.86), sixth in free throw percentage (61.9) and sixth in assist-t0-turnover margin (0.63). Individually, Mitchell ranks 11th in the conference in rebounds per game (5.8), Clark is 10th in assists per game (2.7), sixth in steals per game (2.3) and 12th in minutes per game (29.7), while Obillo is seventh in steals at 2.1 per game.
Nationally, Alcorn ranks 16th in the nation in steals per game and 65th in turnovers forced per game (19.14). Individually, Clark ranks 97th nationally in steals per game and Obillo is 127th in steals per game.
The Lady Braves hold a 55-31 all-time record against Mississippi Valley State, as last year Alcorn swept the two games winning first on the road (81-67) and then came away with a tight win at home (63-60).
Current Alcorn head coach Nathaniel Kilbert spent 12 seasons as the head coach of Mississippi Valley State posting 122 wins during that time.
The Devilettes are 2-5 overall and 0-3 in SWAC play as they dropped both conference games this past week falling at home to Alabama A&M (65-41) and Alabama State (69-45). Mississippi Valley State averages 55.4 points per game making 141-398 (35.4) from the field, 21-83 (25.3) from three and 85-125 (68) from the foul line. Opponents are averaging 71.2 points per game making 192-425 (45.2) from the field, 47-160 (29.4) from three and 68-110 (61.8) from the foul line. Zakiya Mahoney leads the way averaging 13.9 points per game and has a team-high 7.3 rebounds per game. Annya Moss is second on the team in scoring at 12.3 points per game coming off the bench in all seven games thus far. Ronni Williams has 32 assists and has come away with 18 steals.
Alcorn is 38-14 in the all-time record against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, as last year Alcorn won both meetings by a combined five points. The Lady Braves won the first meeting on the road (77-75) and then came away with the home win later in the season (57-54).
Kilbert also guided Arkansas-Pine Bluff for seven seasons winning 57 games during that time and is the winningest coach in program history.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff is 2-7 overall and 1-2 in SWAC play as following a 15-point home win over Mississippi Valley State on Jan. 2, The Lady Lions fell to Alabama State (87-79) and Alabama A&M (57-47) this past week.
The Lady Lions average 66.8 points per game making 201-587 (34.2) from the field, 45-198 (22.7) from three and 155-225 (68.9) from the foul line. Joyce Kennerson leads the team averaging 14.0 points per game and adds 21 assists. Khadijah Brown averages a double-double with 13.7 points and 10.6 rebounds per game, while also leading the team in blocks with 15. Kaila Walker gives the team three in double-figures averaging 13.0 points per game. She also leads the team in assists with 25.
Limited attendance will be allowed at both games. As of December 22, 2020, indoor arena attendance is limited to 10 percent or less of full capacity, not to exceed 1,000 persons, to ensure at least 6 feet of separation between those from different households.
