Tulsa Holds Back Alcorn in Season-Opener

TULSA, Okla. – Three Golden Hurricane players touched double-figures in scoring Monday evening, as Alcorn Women's Basketball was defeated on the road, 82-33 by Tulsa in the 2022-23 season-opener for both teams at the Donald W. Reynolds Center.
 
Alcorn (0-1) was limited to just 7.1 percent shooting in the opening quarter with that set figure setting the tone for much of the opening half.
 
Tulsa (1-0) used six (6) three-pointers in the opening quarter, eventually rolling to a sizeable 27-8 lead heading into the second period.
 
Maddie Bittle scored nine of her 14 points for the night during the opening 10 stanza, while finishing the quarter 3-of-4 shooting from the field – all of them coming from beyond the arc. Temira Poindexter supplied the Golden Hurricane with eight points in the quarter, while Tulsa countered Alcorn's shooting woes with a 47.4 percent mark from the field as a team throughout the opening period.
 
The Braves were limited to just four first half field goals, as it was senior forward Tyginae Wright registering a team-high six points with a perfect 4-for-4 showing at the free throw line to lead the Purple and Gold in the scoring column during the first half of play. Ashanti Backus, Nakia Cheatham and Kailyn Watkins each had two points apiece for the Braves in the first half as well.
 
Alcorn was able to post a 25 percent shooting performance from the field in the third quarter, using field goals from Cheatham, Wright and White, respectfully.
 
Tulsa would counter with four additional three-pointers in the quarter, as the hosts ran the lead out to 69-24 behind a 22-8 scoring run in the period. Poindexter would supply her side with two of the team's four (4) three-pointers across the period.
 
Alcorn was unable to find the shooting touch from three-point range throughout the contest, finishing 0-for-16 from long range on the night. The Braves did, however, go 15-for-22 from the charity stripe, while shooting 68.2 percent for the game from the foul line.
 
Tulsa finished the night shooting 42.9 percent from the field (27-of-63) and 34.2 percent from three-point range (13-for-38).
 
The Golden Hurricane were led in scoring by Poindexter's 16-point outing, followed by Maya Mayberry and Bittle each with 14 points. Mayberry added five assists while Bittle accounted for four.
 
Alcorn was paced by Wright with eight points and five rebounds. Cheatham added six points and two boards, while Akyriale Ford had six points and a blocked shot.
 
The Braves will look to bounce back quickly when traveling to Wichita State on Wednesday, Nov. 9, with tip-off set for 6 p.m.
 
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