MONTGOMERY, Ala.- Alcorn State women's basketball leaned on defense, rebounding, and timely execution to pull away in the second half and earn a 49–40 road victory over Alabama State on Thursday night at the Dunn-Oliver Acadome.
The Lady Braves weathered an early challenge from the Hornets, who led 15–12 after the opening quarter and carried a narrow 20–17 advantage into halftime. Alcorn State struggled offensively in the second quarter, shooting just 2-of-18 from the field, but remained within striking distance by forcing turnovers and limiting Alabama State's second-chance opportunities.
Coming out of the break, Alcorn State completely shifted the tone of the game. The Lady Braves opened the third quarter with renewed energy on both ends, outscoring Alabama State 18–12 behind improved shooting and aggressive defense. Alcorn State used an 8–0 run midway through the quarter to take control, turning stops into transition opportunities and attacking the paint with purpose.
Nakia Cheatham delivered a strong all-around performance, finishing with a team-high 11 points and nine rebounds while battling inside for key second-chance opportunities. Kiarra Henderson followed with 10 points, five rebounds and four assists, consistently pushing the pace and creating offense during critical stretches. Chrishunti Walker added eight points on an efficient 4-of-7 shooting night, while Leyah Houston contributed six points off the bench, going a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line to help maintain separation late.
Defensively, Alcorn State set the tone for the entire second half. The Lady Braves held Alabama State to just eight points in the fourth quarter and limited the Hornets to 28.0 percent shooting for the game. Alabama State managed only four made three-pointers, as Alcorn State's perimeter defense forced tough looks and rushed decisions.
The Lady Braves also capitalized on mistakes, forcing 23 turnovers and turning them into 13 points, while holding an edge in points in the paint, 26–18. Alcorn State's ability to control the glass and win key possession battles proved decisive, especially down the stretch as the Lady Braves calmly closed out the contest at the free-throw line.
With the victory, Alcorn State continued to build momentum in conference play and demonstrated its ability to win gritty road games through defense and discipline.
The Lady Braves will look to carry that momentum into their next contest on Saturday, Jan. 10, when they travel to Huntsville to take on Alabama A&M at 2 p.m.
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