TALLAHASSEE, FL – Alcorn State women's basketball battled back from an early deficit and secured a hard-fought 74-69 road victory over Florida A&M on Thursday night at the Al Lawson Center. The Lady Braves used a dominant second quarter and clutch performances down the stretch to pick up their third consecutive SWAC win.
Destiny Brown led the charge with a game-high 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting, while also adding four rebounds, a block, and a steal.
Zy'Nyia White contributed 12 points and two rebounds, while Sharmayne Finley provided a spark with nine points on 4-of-5 shooting. Alcorn's depth was a major factor, as the bench accounted for 30 points in the win.
Despite a slow start that saw Florida A&M take a 15-point lead after the first quarter, the Lady Braves responded with a dominant second quarter, outscoring the Rattlers 28-7 to take control of the game. Alcorn maintained its composure in the second half, fending off a late rally to secure the road victory.
GAME RECAP
First Quarter – Florida A&M 24, Alcorn 9
- The Lady Braves struggled to find their rhythm early, shooting just 36.3% from the field in the opening quarter.
- Florida A&M came out hot, hitting 90.9% of their shots, including three three-pointers to build a double-digit lead.
- Brown and White provided Alcorn's only early offense, combining for eight of the team's nine points in the period.
Second Quarter – Alcorn 37, Florida A&M 31
- The Lady Braves responded in a big way, outscoring Florida A&M 28-7 in a dominant second quarter.
- Alcorn shot 78.6% from the field in the period, including two three-pointers from Maya Claytor and Arene Iyekekpolor.
- The Lady Braves turned up the defensive pressure, forcing turnovers and limiting Florida A&M to just two field goals in the quarter.
Third Quarter – Alcorn 50, Florida A&M 47
- Both teams traded baskets in a competitive third quarter, with White and Finley leading the way for Alcorn.
- Florida A&M found success getting to the free-throw line, making seven of their 10 attempts in the period to cut into Alcorn's lead.
- The Lady Braves held strong on the boards, with Brown and Kiarra Henderson securing key rebounds to maintain a slim advantage.
Fourth Quarter – Alcorn 74, Florida A&M 69
- Florida A&M made a late push, cutting the lead to two points with under a minute to play.
- Brown and Kailyn Watkins came up clutch, each hitting key baskets in the final moments to seal the win.
- Alcorn knocked down crucial free throws down the stretch, with Watkins hitting two in the closing seconds to put the game out of reach.
BY THE NUMBERS
- 21 – Destiny Brown led all scorers with 21 points, shooting 8-of-12 from the field.
- 12 – Zy'Nyia White added 12 points, converting 5-of-9 attempts.
- 30 – Alcorn's bench contributed 30 points, led by Henderson and Iyekekpolor's combined 12 points.
- 58.8% – The Lady Braves shot an impressive 58.8% from the field, including 75% in the fourth quarter.
UP NEXT
The Lady Braves (8-15, 6-6 SWAC) return to action on Saturday, February 15, as they travel to Daytona Beach, Florida to take on Bethune Cookman University. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. CST.
