ATLANTA, GA – The No. 6 seed Alcorn State women's basketball team's incredible tournament run came to an end in the SWAC Championship on Saturday evening, as they fell to No. 1 seed Southern 64-44 at the Gateway Center Arena. The Lady Braves (14-18, 10-8 SWAC) put up a strong fight early, but a dominant second quarter by Southern (20-14, 15-3 SWAC) proved to be the turning point, allowing the Jaguars to secure the conference title.
Destiny Brown led Alcorn with 12 points, six rebounds, and three blocks in another strong defensive effort. Sharmayne Finley added 11 points, while Nakia Cheathman recorded six points and a game-high 11 rebounds. The Lady Braves started hot, scoring 20 points in the first quarter, but Southern's defense locked down in the second, holding Alcorn to just four points and shifting the momentum in the Jaguars' favor.
Despite Alcorn winning the rebounding battle 29-24, turnovers proved costly as Southern converted 24 points off 17 Alcorn miscues. The Lady Braves struggled offensively in the
second half, shooting just 30% from the field, as Southern maintained control down the stretch.
GAME RECAP
First Quarter – Alcorn 20, Southern 20
- The Lady Braves came out aggressive, knocking down two three-pointers and attacking the basket early.
- Brown set the tone inside with six points and two blocks in the opening frame.
- Southern matched Alcorn's energy, hitting six of their first 17 shots to keep the game tied after 10 minutes.
Second Quarter – Southern 36, Alcorn 24
- Southern took over in the second quarter, outscoring Alcorn 16-4.
- The Jaguars' defense forced six turnovers and held Alcorn to just 2-of-10 shooting from the field.
- Alcorn's only baskets in the period came from Cheathman and Finley, as Southern built a 12-point halftime lead.
Third Quarter – Southern 51, Alcorn 36
- The Lady Braves fought back in the third, cutting the deficit to nine midway through the quarter.
- A key three-pointer from Cheathman gave Alcorn some momentum, but Southern responded with an 8-2 run to push the lead back to 15.
- The Jaguars continued to take advantage of Alcorn turnovers, converting them into fast-break points.
Fourth Quarter – Southern 64, Alcorn 44
- Southern maintained control in the final period, never allowing Alcorn to get within striking distance.
- Brown and Finley scored key baskets, but the Lady Braves shot just 25% in the quarter.
- Southern closed the game on an 8-2 run to secure the championship victory.
BY THE NUMBERS
- 12 & 6 – Destiny Brown finished with 12 points, six rebounds, and three blocks.
- 11 – Sharmayne Finley added 11 points, including a three-pointer in the first half.
- 11 – Nakia Cheathman led all players with 11 rebounds.
- 24 – Southern converted 24 points off Alcorn's 17 turnovers.
- 35.6% – The Lady Braves struggled offensively, shooting 35.6% from the field and 22.2% from three.
SEASON CONCLUSION
With the loss, Alcorn State concludes the 2024-25 season with a 14-18 overall record and a 10-8 mark in SWAC play. The Lady Braves made an impressive run to the SWAC Championship game, securing upset wins over Alabama A&M and Texas Southern before falling to top-seeded Southern. The program will now shift its focus to offseason development in preparation for the 2025-26 campaign.
