MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The Alabama State University women's basketball team looks to bounce back from a one-point loss in their last outing, facing Mississippi Valley State University Monday night at the Dunn-Oliver Acadome.
Alabama State (8-12, 7-3 SWAC) fell to Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 52-51 in their last outing on a free throw with 1.7 seconds to play in the contest. Seniors
Britney Wright and
Daniele Ewert led the Lady Hornets with 13 points each in the loss.
"That was a tough loss Saturday," Alabama State head coach
Freda Freeman-Jackson said. "It is tough because you know you have to protect your home court in this conference, and then try and win one on the road. There is nothing we can do about it, we can't change the outcome. We just have to be better and be prepared to play Monday night."
The Lady Hornets have not lost back-to-back games since falling to LSU (December 28) and Grambling State (January 2), and have not lost back-to-back games in conference play since last January (second and fourth). They will look to avoid back-to-back losses behind Wright, who is averaging 20.8 points and 7.7 rebounds per game in conference play. She is near the top of the conference in both scoring and rebounding, averaging 16.7 points and 6.9 rebounds per game throughout the regular season. She is joined in double figures by Ewert at 10.3 points per game.
Defensively, the Lady Hornets are holding their opponents to just 58.5 points per game and will look to stop two-time reigning SWAC Player of the Week Ashley Beals of Mississippi Valley State. She comes into the game averaging 14.5 points and nine rebounds per game in the regular season, including 17.9 points and 10.7 rebounds per game in conference play. In their last game, Mississippi Valley State defeated Alabama A&M 58-52 behind a double-double from Beals with 17 points and 18 rebounds, while Kristy Parker led the team with a game-high 20 points.
Alabama State and Mississippi Valley State met earlier this season in Itta Bena (Miss.), with the Lady Hornets winning a 78-72 decision behind a double-double from Wright. The senior paced three players in double figures, finishing with 20 points and 12 rebounds. Ewert finished with 15 and
Damya Toney with 13 in the win. In the Mississippi Valley State loss, Christian Reed led all scorers with 30; while Beals added 16 (nine rebounds) and Lauren Elliott 11.
The game tips at 5:30 pm Monday night at the Dunn-Oliver Acadome.
For more information on Alabama State University athletics, follow us on Twitter @BamaStateSports and like us on Facebook. For more information on Alabama State women's basketball, follow us on Twitter @BamaStateWBB.
