LORMAN, Miss. (Interstat) — The Alcorn State Lady Braves built a large early lead and defeated the Prairie View Lady Panthers 59-43 in a Southwestern Athletic Conference women’s basketball game Thursday night at Davey Whitney Complex. Alcorn State led 16-5 after the first quarter and 26-12 at halftime, controlling the game throughout. Prairie View’s offense struggled until a 22-point fourth quarter, which was not enough to overcome the deficit. The win improves Alcorn State to 5-9 overall. Prairie View drops to 2-14. Nakia Cheatham and Ja’Sharreah Hunt were key contributors for the Lady Braves. Attendance was 222.

LORMAN, Miss. (Interstat) — The Alcorn State Lady Braves used a dominant defensive performance and a balanced scoring attack to secure a 59-43 victory over the Prairie View A&M Lady Panthers in a Southwestern Athletic Conference women’s basketball game Thursday night at the Davey Whitney Complex. Nakia Cheatham, a 6-foot junior from Clarksdale, Mississippi, anchored the win for Alcorn State with 14 points, three blocks and three steals in 29 minutes. Her presence in the paint was a defining factor, as the Lady Braves recorded nine steals and five blocks as a team, stifling a Prairie View offense that struggled to find consistency all evening. The game was effectively decided in the first half by a combination of Alcorn State’s defensive pressure and Prairie View’s profound offensive struggles. The Lady Panthers managed just 12 points in the opening 20 minutes, shooting a frigid 5 of 30 from the floor and missing all eight of their three-point attempts. They also converted only 2 of 7 free throws before halftime. Alcorn State was not sharp offensively either, but built a commanding 26-12 lead by intermission. The Lady Braves closed the first quarter on a 14-2 run, capped by a Lauren Nelson floating jumper assisted by Dalayja Hurt-Floyd with 1:39 remaining, to take a 16-5 advantage. Prairie View’s scoring drought spanned nearly six minutes during that decisive stretch. The Lady Panthers showed brief signs of life after halftime, opening the third quarter with a 5-0 spurt, but Alcorn State responded immediately. A three-pointer from Ja’Sharreah Hunt, who finished with nine points, and a layup from Chrishunti Walker pushed the lead back to 17 points and snuffed out the rally. Alcorn State maintained a double-digit cushion for the entirety of the second half. Prairie View’s offense finally found a rhythm in the fourth quarter, scoring 22 points, more than they had in the first three quarters combined. Crystal Schultz of Houston led all scorers with 16 points, with 11 coming in the final period, including a three-pointer that cut the deficit to 53-48 with 4:31 remaining. Alana Shields of Chicago added 12 points for the Lady Panthers. However, each time Prairie View threatened, Alcorn State had an answer. Following Schultz’s three, Maya Claytor of Wahiawa, Hawaii, who scored 11 points, answered with a three-pointer of her own on the ensuing possession. After a Prairie View turnover, Kiarra Henderson of Fort Worth, Texas, who tallied six points and five assists, drove for a layup to extend the lead back to 10 points and effectively seal the game with under five minutes to play. The most important sequence of the game occurred early, setting the tone for the night. After a slow start for both teams, Alcorn State’s defense completely overwhelmed Prairie View in the latter half of the first quarter. The Lady Panthers committed five turnovers and missed seven consecutive field goal attempts during Alcorn State’s 14-2 run. Cheatham was instrumental in this stretch, contributing a steal, a block, and four points. This defensive lockdown established a lead that Prairie View, with its ongoing shooting woes, could never realistically challenge. Statistically, the game was defined by poor shooting. Prairie View finished 15 of 55 from the field (27.3%) and 3 of 19 from three-point range. Alcorn State was only marginally better at 24 of 59 (40.7%) and 5 of 21 from beyond the arc. The Lady Panthers also hurt themselves at the free-throw line, making just 10 of 21 attempts. Alcorn State improved its season record to 5-9 overall. Prairie View fell to 2-14. An announced crowd of 222 attended the conference matchup. Alcorn State is scheduled to host Texas Southern on Saturday. Prairie View A&M will travel to face Jackson State, also on Saturday.

Preview: Prairie View Lady Panthers at Alcorn State Lady Braves LORMAN, Miss. (Interstat) — Two Southwestern Athletic Conference teams seeking momentum will meet Thursday when the Prairie View A&M Lady Panthers visit the Alcorn State Lady Braves at the Davey Whitney Complex. The conference matchup features struggling squads. Prairie View enters with a 2-13 overall record, while Alcorn State sits at 4-9. Both are coming off lopsided road losses this past Saturday. Prairie View fell 80-73 to Mississippi Valley State, and Alcorn State was defeated 76-34 at Alabama A&M. The game will hinge on which team can capitalize on a rare favorable conference opportunity. Prairie View’s offense runs through guard Crystal Schultz, who has been a bright spot during a difficult season. Schultz is averaging 21.4 points over her last five games, including a 23-point performance in the loss to Mississippi Valley State. Support from Marckalia Celestine, who had 10 rebounds and three blocks in that game, will be crucial. Alcorn State counters with guard Kiarra Henderson, who has shown scoring ability in SWAC play. Henderson tallied 21 points, three rebounds and four assists in a key 49-45 road win at Jackson State on Jan. 3. The Lady Braves’ defense, which held Alabama State to 40 points in a win on Jan. 8, will aim to contain Schultz and force other Lady Panthers to score. Prairie View has lost eight consecutive games since a Nov. 25 win over Huston-Tillotson. Alcorn State has shown modest improvement, winning two of its first three SWAC contests before the setback at Alabama A&M. Historically, these teams split their regular-season meetings last year, with each winning on its home court. Thursday’s contest is the first of a home-and-home series this season, with the rematch scheduled for Feb. 28 at Prairie View. Tipoff is set for Thursday night in Lorman. The Lady Braves will look to protect their home floor and improve to 3-1 in SWAC play, while the Lady Panthers desperately seek their first conference victory and a halt to their extended skid.