Women's Basketball 1/29/2021 3:54:00 PM

Lady Braves Return Home to Open Three-Game Homestand This Saturday Against Southern

LORMAN, Miss. – After playing a competitive game and coming close to a big road win last time out against Alabama State, the Alcorn State University women's basketball team will return home this Saturday when they face Southern beginning at 1 p.m. inside Davey L. Whitney Complex.

Kirdis Clark led the way against the Lady Hornets with 16 points. She also earned Southwestern Athletic Conference Impact Player of the Week for the second straight time. Tyginae Wright added 12 points in just 12 minutes on the floor. Aja Wheeler approached a double-double with eight points and seven rebounds. Although Alabama State claimed the 68-57 victory, the Lady Braves were within five points in the third quarter and within six in the fourth quarter before the Lady Hornets made a late push for the win.

Alcorn is 4-6 overall and 4-2 in SWAC play, going 3-0 at home so far. Clark leads the team averaging 12.3 points, in assists with 25 and steals with 25 and also averages 3.5 rebounds per game. Cayla Obillo adds 7.9 points and Deja Mitchell with 7.7 points. Mitchell leads the way in rebounds at 5.4 per game and Diamond Hall has sent back a team-high five blocks. As a team, the Lady Braves average 57.2 points, making 217-589 (36.8) from the field, 41-167 (24.6) from three and 97-159 (61) from the foul line. Opponents average 68.5 points making 256-529 (48.4) from the field, 58-136 (42.6) from three and 115-195 (59) from the foul line.

Alcorn leads the SWAC and is sixth nationally in steals per game (12.4), leads the conference and is 12^th nationally in turnovers forced per game (21.50), second in the conference and 40^th nationally in total steals (124), third in the conference in assist-to-turnover ratio (0.70), third in the conference and 34^th nationally in turnover margin (4.70), third in the conference in turnovers per game (16.8), fourth in the conference in assists (118), fourth in the conference and 114^th nationally in fewest turnovers (168), fourth in the conference in three point field goals made (41), fifth in the conference in assists per game (11.8) and fifth in the conference in win-loss percentage (40).

Individually, Clark leads the SWAC and is 103^rd nationally in steals (25). She also ranks second in the SWAC and is 51^st nationally in steals per game (2.50). Obillo is fifth in the SWAC and 100^th nationally in steals per game (2.20). Clark ranks 11^th in the SWAC in points per game (12.3), eighth in the SWAC in three point field goals made (1.4), 10^th in the SWAC in assists per game (2.5), Mitchell ranks 10^th in the SWAC in rebounds per game (5.4), Obillo is 12^th in the SWAC in assists per game (2.4).

Standings in the conference entering this week has Alabama State and Jackson State tied for first at 5-1. Alcorn State and Southern are tied at 4-2, followed by Alabama A&M (2-1), Grambling State (3-2), Texas Southern (1-2), UAPB (1-4) and both Mississippi Valley State and Prairie View A&M (0-5).

Southern enters the game at 4-8 overall and tied with Alcorn in the conference standings at 4-2. The Lady Jaguars are riding a three-game winning streak picking up the big win last time out at Alabama State (60-56). That was their first road win of the season. Other wins during the streak include UAPB (67-57) and Mississippi Valley State (87-60). Southern is 3-0 at home and 1-8 on the road so far this season.

Genovea Johnson leads the team averaging 15.2 points per game, she also adds 16 steals and 14 assists. Next closest in scoring is Amani McWain's 8.6 point per game and Nakia Kincey adds 7.8 points per contest. The Lady Jaguars average 56.3 points per game making 247-700 (35.3) from the field, 46-183 (25.1) from three and 136-223 (61) from the foul line. Opponents average 65 points making 299-628 (47.6) from the field, 41-142 (28.9) from three and 142-222 (64) from the foul line.

Since 2006, Southern holds a 24-9 record in the series, but last time out in Lorman, Alcorn picked up the 58-53 victory. The teams split last year's meetings with Southern winning the earlier meeting at home, 74-57. The win in the last meeting for Alcorn snapped a seven-game winning streak in the series for Southern.

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Players Mentioned

#13 Kirdis Clark: G; 5' 8"; Sophomore

#15 Diamond Hall: G/F; 5' 10"; Freshman

#14 Cayla Obillo: Guard; 5' 2"; Junior

#25 Tyginae Wright: Guard/Forward; 5' 9"; Senior

#11 Deja Mitchell: Forward/Center; 6' 0"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#13 Kirdis Clark
: 5' 8"; Sophomore
: G

#15 Diamond Hall
: 5' 10"; Freshman
: G/F

#14 Cayla Obillo
: 5' 2"; Junior
: Guard

#25 Tyginae Wright
: 5' 9"; Senior
: Guard/Forward

#11 Deja Mitchell
: 6' 0"; Senior
: Forward/Center