MONTGOMERY, Ala. – After back-to-back conference losses, the Alabama State University women's basketball team will look to rebound as they host Prairie View A&M University at the Dunn-Oliver Acadome Monday night. The game tips at 5:30 pm on the Alabama State campus.
Alabama State (11-14, 10-5 SWAC) and Prairie View A&M have met once previously this season, with the Lady Hornets walking away with a dominant 75-61 victory on the road.
Britney Wright and
Tatyana Calhoun dominated the paint in the first meeting, combining for 42 points and 15 rebounds against the Panthers. Wright led the way with 26 points and eight rebounds, while Calhoun finished with 16 in the victory – a game in which Alabama State led all by two minutes.
The Lady Hornets will not only be looking to bounce back against Prairie View A&M, but they will also be doing so on Senior Night – a night in which Alabama State will honor four seniors. Wright – who can become the school's second all-time leading scorer Monday night,
Danielle Clark,
Daniele Ewert and
Damya Toney will be honored as they play their final regular season home game.
Although it may be their final regular season home game, the Lady Hornets can lock up a home game in the first round of the SWAC Championship Tournament with a victory over Prairie View A&M and some help from Jackson State (who plays Arkansas-Pine Bluff). With wins by Alabama State and Jackson State, the Lady Hornets will earn the right to host a tournament game at the Dunn-Oliver Acadome as they will have the tiebreaker over Alcorn State with two games left to play – with the worst they could do is tie the Braves.
Wright continues to lead Alabama State, and the Southwestern Athletic Conference, in scoring at 17.4 points per game through 25 games this season; while also being fourth in rebounding at 7.2 per game and leading the conference in free throw shooting. The senior has scored in double figures 20 times, including 14 in conference play; while averaging 20.6 points and 7.7 rebounds per game.
Meanwhile, Ewert – also playing her final home game – is second on the team in scoring at 10 points per game, including scoring in double figures 13 times off the bench for Alabama State. She is second in the conference in free throw shooting behind Wright.
The Lady Hornets will need to stop a trio of players – Alexus Parker (15.4 ppg), Tori Carter (13.2 ppg) and Jeronia Allen (12.3 ppg) – who are averaging double figures this season for Prairie View A&M. The Panthers come into the game following a 63-50 victory over Alabama A&M; while Alabama State enters following a 55-50 loss to Texas Southern in which Wright (foul trouble) and Ewert (injury) were limited. The Lady Hornets also played without point guard
Shamyiah Smith, who was out after being injured at Southern.
The game will be aired on the Hornet Sports Network, with the pregame show beginning at 5:15 pm.
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