Brown Performs Well Against Alabama A&M

LORMAN, Miss. – Amani Free poured in 22 points Saturday afternoon in powering visiting Alabama A&M to a 63-56 Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) victory over Alcorn in women's basketball play at the Davey L. Whitney Complex.
 
Alcorn (4-9, 0-2 SWAC) used a strong performance from leading-scorer Destiny Brown on the day.
 
The Braves led for most of the first quarter behind baskets from five different scorers, including a three-pointer off the bench from T'Naye Griffin. Alcorn led 8-7 with 1:57 remaining, until a 6-2 run by Alabama A&M (5-8, 3-0) ended the period.
 
An Amani Free three-pointer from the right side was followed by a pair of Darian Burgin free throws that allowed the visitors a 13-11 at the close of the first quarter.
 
In the second, the Purple and Gold registered a 46.2 percent shooting touch from the field, as Brown scored nine points in the quarter. However, the Bulldogs used nine points of their own from Free to hold a 31-28 edge as the teams went to the locker room at the half.
 
Taylor Smith's three-pointer and Amiah Simmons' layup on the fast break put the Bulldogs up 36-28 midway through the third quarter. Zy'Nyia White added free throws alongside De'Asia Reid's layup and Maya Claytor's shot from beyond the arc to bring the Braves to within 37-36 with 1:32 remaining in the third.
 
But it would be Smith and Free taking over down the stretch to score the final five points to give Alabama A&M a 42-36 lead with one quarter remaining.
 
Simmons scored a put-back layup to push the Bulldogs' lead out to its largest of the afternoon, 53-42 with 4:29 left.
 
Cayla Obillo would provide a pair of assists to Brown and Nakia Cheatham, but Alabama A&M's Smith and Free would connect on their shots from the charity stripe to seal the win. Obillo finished the game with a game-high four assists.
 
Alabama A&M was charged by Free's 22-point effort on the day, adding eight rebounds and three blocks. Simmons reached double-figures scoring with 10, also collecting five rebounds in the contest. Jayla Cody picked up eight rebounds and four blocks. As a team, the Bulldogs shot 37 percent from the field, including 4-for-16 from long range.
 
However, the Bulldogs connected on 19-of-24 shots from the foul line.
 
Alcorn used 19 points from Brown, as the Los Angeles, California native added 14 rebounds for her third (3rd) double-double of the year. She would also add two assists and eight blocks. Claytor put in seven points for the Braves. And it was Tyginae Wright and White adding six points each.
 
Alcorn looks to break its five-game skid Monday evening when the Braves welcome Alabama State to the Davey L. Whitney Complex for a SWAC contest at 5:30 p.m.
 
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