Alcorn State Surges to the Top of the SWAC Women's Basketball Standings

In a pivotal SWAC women's basketball showdown, the Alcorn State Lady Braves delivered a dominant performance, defeating the Southern University Jaguars 69-56 and seizing sole possession of first place in the conference standings.

The Lady Braves showcased their offensive efficiency, physical prowess on the glass, and stifling defensive pressure to control the game from start to finish. Alcorn shot a blistering 48% from the field and 57% from three-point range, while holding Southern to just 25% shooting overall and 16% from beyond the arc.

Maya Hunkin-Claytor led the way for the Lady Braves, pouring in a game-high 17 points, including 4 three-pointers, while also grabbing 6 rebounds. Chrishunti Walker provided a steady presence inside, scoring 10 points on 5-of-9 shooting, and Kiarra Henderson filled the stat sheet with 7 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists.

The Lady Braves' bench production was also a significant factor, outscoring Southern's reserves by a wide margin. Arene Iyekekpolor added 8 points, and Lauren Nelson chipped in 7 points off the bench, highlighting Alcorn's impressive depth.

On the other side, Southern University struggled to find their offensive rhythm, despite a double-double performance from Jocelyn Tate (15 points, 12 rebounds).

"This was one of our most complete performances of the season," said Alcorn State head coach Courtney Pruitt. "Our players were focused, executed our game plan, and played with tremendous energy and toughness on both ends of the floor."

With the victory, Alcorn State improves to 7-1 in SWAC play (10-9 overall), moving within half a game of conference leader Alabama A&M. Southern University falls to 7-2 in league action (11-9 overall), sliding to third place as the race tightens near the top of the standings.

This result adds another layer of excitement to an increasingly competitive SWAC women's basketball title chase, with Alcorn State emerging as a formidable contender and showcasing the depth and talent of HBCU programs.

Originally reported by HBCU Gameday.