LORMAN – The Alcorn State Lady Braves secured their first SWAC win of the season with a hard-fought 61-54 victory over Alabama State on Tuesday afternoon at the Davey L. Whitney Health & Physical Education Complex.
Destiny Brown led the charge for Alcorn with 14 points, nine rebounds, and five assists while making key defensive plays with five steals. Maya Claytor added 12 points, including four three-pointers, and Nakia Cheathman contributed 10 points and seven rebounds off the bench. The Lady Braves' third-quarter surge proved decisive, helping them take control of a closely contested game.
GAME RECAP
First Quarter – Alabama State 11, Alcorn 10
- Alabama State opened the game with a quick 7-0 run.
- Nakia Cheathman hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer to close the quarter and bring Alcorn within one.
Second Quarter – Alabama State 33, Alcorn 30
- Maya Claytor's two three-pointers highlighted the quarter as Alcorn kept pace with the Hornets.
- Alabama State's Cordasia Harris scored eight points in the quarter, giving the visitors a slim halftime lead.
Third Quarter – Alcorn 50, Alabama State 43
- The Lady Braves came out on fire, with Claytor hitting back-to-back three-pointers to spark a 17-7 run.
- Cheathman's strong play in the paint and Arene Iyekekpolor's timely three-pointer helped Alcorn build a seven-point lead heading into the final frame.
Fourth Quarter – Alcorn 61, Alabama State 54
- Alcorn held off Alabama State's comeback attempt with clutch plays from Brown and Kiarra Henderson.
- Brown's assist to Henderson for a late layup extended the lead to six, and Henderson sealed the win with a free throw in the final seconds.
BY THE NUMBERS
- 14 – Destiny Brown led Alcorn with 14 points and grabbed a team-high nine rebounds.
- 40% – The Lady Braves shot 40% from three-point range, led by Claytor's four made triples.
- 26 – Alcorn's bench provided a significant lift with 26 points.
- 18 – The Lady Braves forced 18 turnovers, leading to 10 points off those miscues.
UP NEXT
The Lady Braves (3-10, 1-1 SWAC) will look to build on this momentum as they host Alabama A&M University on Saturday, January 11. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. CST.
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