LORMAN, Miss | Mailyn Wilkerson tied her career high of 22 points as the Bulldogs topped the Alcorn State Braves 66-56 and earned their first Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) road victory.
Alabama A&M soared to a quick 11-point lead and never looked back, holding the lead for 39 of 40 minutes. Alisha Wilson also landed in double-figures, picking up her eighth rebound of the season and sixth in a row after tallying 17 points and 10 rebounds. Jaiyah Harris-Smith added eight assists and three steals and Shelomi Sanders contributed a career-high six points.
The Braves, once down by 18, reduced the Bulldog lead to eight in the fourth quarter, but foul trouble sent AAMU to the line to regain control. SWAC Offensive Player of the Year Destiny Brown contributed a game-high 25 points and 12 rebounds for Alcorn State, including seven of nine from the line. Zy'Nyia White added 10 points for the Braves and Kiarra Henderson totaled four assists. The Bulldogs lead the all-time series 20-18 with Alcorn State and Coach Thornton moves to 9-8 against the Braves.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Alabama A&M Bulldogs jumped to a 17-6 lead paced by a pair of three-pointers from Wilkerson to force a Braves timeout
Alcorn picked up their ninth turnover in the first quarter and fouled Harvey in the attempt to regain possession, furthering the score to 19-6 after a pair of free throws.
Wilkerson sunk another shot from beyond the arc to close out the first frame with the visitors ahead, 22-6
After going scoreless for more than five minutes, Brown drove to the basket and Kailyn Watkins added a triple of her own to come within 12 of the Bulldogs (23-11)
A layup a piece for Wilson and Tia Harvey gave the Bulldogs a 16-point lead with just under five minutes remaining in the quarter (29-16)
Brown scored five of the next six points for the Lady Braves, including a layup and foul shot to bring the host team within 11 of the visitors
Sanders added two more free throws to bring the contest to the break with the Bulldogs leading 33-19
Wilkerson opened the frame with her fourth triple of the afternoon
Brown responded quickly, draining a layup, drawing the foul and making the shot
The Braves lessened their deficit to 10 after four consecutive points from Brown
Alabama A&M regained a 16-point lead courtesy of a pair of jumpers from Burgin
AAMU earned its largest lead of the contest after a layup from Sanders and pair of free throws from Wilson with two and a half minutes left in the third stanza (49-31)
Alcorn answered with a three-pointer from Cheathman and White to come back within 11 (0:39)
The Bulldogs ended the third quarter with a made free throw from Burgin (52-39)
Brown found the net through the lane to add two more to the Lady Brave tally, but Wilkerson was set in her sweet spot again for another three pointer
Brown added four more points for the Braves, but Wilkerson stunted the host team comeback with an uncontested triple (60-47)
Henderson reduced the Bulldog lead by four, but four consecutive free throws ballooned the AAMU lead to 13.
Brown accounted for three more points, but was not enough, as the Bulldogs claimed the contest, 66-56
GAME NOTES
UP NEXT
The Bulldogs take a week off before returning home to face in-state SWAC rival Alabama State at the AAMU Event Center. The contest will be the first game in the doubleheader with the men's team, and tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. with live streaming available via Bulldogs All-Access.
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