LORMAN, Miss. – Junior forward Dariauna Lewis (Omaha, Neb.) erupted for a massive double-double but a dominant overtime period was the deciding factor as Alabama A&M (7-4, 5-3 SWAC) dropped a 73-64 decision at Alcorn State (6-9, 6-5 SWAC) in an NCAA Division I women's basketball game on Monday, February 22.
 
Lewis delivered a command performance as she registered 25 points, 17 rebounds (six off the offensive glass) and a pair of blocks in 42 minutes to lead the Bulldogs while senior guard Deshawna Harper (Indianapolis, Ind.) finished with 14 points and nine rebounds.
 
Senior guard Nigeria Jones (Lincoln, Neb.) came away with eight points, three rebounds, three assists and three steals and freshman guard Darian Burgin (Cincinnati, Ohio) added seven points, three caroms and three assists. Redshirt-junior center Elexis Evans (Greensboro, Ala.) rounded things out with seven points and five boards.
 
Up just 4-3 early on, A&M scored five straight points, capped by a three from Harper, for a 9-3 advantage before the Braves responded with back-to-back triples to knot it up at the 5:54 mark. From there it would be a nip-and-tuck affair as the teams would be separated by no more than four points, and see the lead change hands twice, before the Bulldogs pulled ahead 20-14 on another Harper three, this one at 1:31.
 
Following an ASU bucket in the final seconds, it would be a four point margin heading to the second, a frame that would see Alabama A&M use a 9-4 burst to extend to a 29-20 lead with 4:58 showing on the clock. That margin would eventually grow to double-digits at 33-23 before heading to the half at 34-25.
 
The clubs would be evenly matched coming out of the break as each scored 13 points in the third to head to the fourth with the Bulldogs leading 47-38. That final period of regulation would see an abrupt change, but not until the 6:09 mark. A&M owned the first part of the quarter as they pushed their lead to 11 points, 49-38, before settling in with a 51-44 spread.
 
Over the next 2:34 Alcorn's Cayla Obillo knocked down a pair of threes to fuel an 8-1 run and draw even at 52-52. The teams would tie twice more before the Braves took a narrow 58-56 advantage with 1:05 remaining, only to see the Bulldogs tie it on the next possession.
 
After trading a free throw apiece, the deadlocked persisted until ASU's Kirdis Clark knocked down a jumper in the pain for a 61-59 lead with just four seconds to play. Following a timeout, Alabama A&M got the ball into the front court where Evans found Lewis underneath the hoop for a layup to tie it and send the teams to overtime knotted at 61-61.
 
That, however, would be the last time it would be close as Alcorn opened the extra frame with eight straight points to take a commanding 69-61 lead with 2:17 left. A&M would get no closer than seven, on a pair of occasions, as the Braves closed out the 73-64 overtime victory.
 
Clark led the way for Alcorn State with 21 points, six rebounds and three steals while Obillo finished with 19 points in 41 minutes. Deja Mitchell yanked down 10 points to go with six points and three assists and Diamond Hall added seven points and five caroms. Nia McCalphia chipped in with eight points to close out the top performers.
 
The Bulldogs are back in action for a special 12 p.m. matinee on Wednesday, February 24 as they travel to Southern. That game was rescheduled from Saturday, February 20 due to severe weather.