Alcorn Cruises to 88-48 Win Over Tougaloo

LORMAN, Miss. – Four Braves players reached double-figures scoring on Tuesday afternoon as Alcorn cruised to an 88-48 nonconference victory over Tougaloo in women's basketball action inside the Davey L. Whitney Complex.
 
Alcorn (4-4) set the tone early-on outscoring the Bulldogs 37-11 in the opening quarter.
 
After falling behind 1-0 following an administrative technical foul to start the game, Alcorn went on an 18-0 run in less than four minutes when the clock eventually started.
 
Zy'Nyia White's three-pointer from the corner began the scoring frenzy for the Braves, followed moments later by a Cayla Obillo jumper from beyond the arc to give the Braves an 8-1 advantage – added a pair of free throws from Destiny Brown. Nia McCalphia would get in on the action with her driving layup, as well as Brown's putback jumper off the glass to propel the lead for the Braves to 12-1.
 
McCalphia, a senior from Newton, Mississippi, connected on both of her three-point baskets in the game in back-to-back possessions for the Purple and Gold, leading to the 18-1 advantage with just under seven minutes showing on the first quarter clock.
 
Alcorn redshirt sophomore guard Kailyn Watkins came off the bench in the first period to score 10 points, while McCalphia added eight points from her starting role.
 
In the first period alone, the Braves shot 64.7 percent from the field, including 66.7 percent from three-point range. They added 11-of-12 free throws in the period as well.
 
Tougaloo was held to just 23.5 percent shooting from the floor in the opening period while being forced into 10 turnovers which were turned into 13 points by the Braves.
 
Alcorn held a 55-25 edge at halftime.
 
In the second half, Head Coach Nate Kilbert's side used a number of substitutions to get playing time for his bench.
 
"We wanted to set the tone early and get out to an quick lead so that we could get some minutes for other players," admitted Kilbert. "Tougaloo has some solid athletes, and we knew we needed to come out and be aggressive early-on because you can't allow them to build momentum throughout the game with the quality they have on the offensive end of the court."
 
For Alcorn, the bench alone scored 39 points in the game. The Braves also held a clear advantage in fastbreak points, scoring 32 against the Bulldogs' four.
 
One of the key contributors off the bench for the Braves was redshirt sophomore forward Akyriale Ford, chipping in with 11 points on a 5-of-11 shooting tough from the floor, and eventually completing her double-double outing with 11 rebounds.
 
Tougaloo was led in scoring by Orlandrea McGee with 18, including a pair of three-pointers. Berniya Harden supplied all 14 of the bench points for the Bulldogs, adding six rebounds, three steals and two assists in 30 minutes of action.
 
Alcorn was led in the scoring column by Brown's 14-point, 12-rebound performance, registering her first double-double of the season in the process. She also finished the game with a game-high six blocks, matching her season-high in that department from the win over New Orleans. White turned in 13 points, backed up by Watkins (12) and Ford (11) to round out the double-figure scorers for the Purple and Gold.
 
Tyginae Wright supplied a season-best seven assists, and T'Naye Griffin picked up a game-high four steals.
 
Alcorn returns to action Friday, Dec. 16, when the Braves travel to the University of Colorado for a game scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
 
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