LORMAN, Miss. – Alcorn State women's basketball opened the 2025-26 campaign with a hard-fought effort Monday evening, coming up short 72-66 against Nicholls State inside the Davey L. Whitney Complex.
Senior guard Nakia Cheatham paced the Lady Braves with 22 points, seven rebounds, four steals, and a block while shooting 9-of-15 from the floor. Lauren Nelson provided an offensive spark off the bench with 11 points, hitting all three of her three-point attempts. Maya Claytor added 11 points and three rebounds, and Kiarra Henderson finished with eight points, five boards, and three assists.
As a team, Alcorn shot 44.8 percent from the field (26-of-58) and connected on eight three-pointers. The Lady Braves held a 32-23 advantage on the glass and scored 32 points in the paint, but 18 turnovers and a 6-for-16 effort at the free throw line proved costly down the stretch.
Alcorn trailed 32-23 at halftime before trimming the deficit in the third quarter behind baskets from Anyra Wilson and Cheatham. The Lady Braves closed the game strong with late threes from Nelson and Cheatham to pull within single digits, but Nicholls managed to hold on.
Wilson added nine points and five rebounds, while Leyah Houston scored six off the bench.
Alcorn State (0-1) will look to bounce back at home Wednesday evening when it hosts Mississippi University for Women at 6 p.m. inside the Davey L. Whitney Complex.
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