The Alabama State University Lady Hornets secured the win at the Dunn-Oliver Acadome against the Bethune-Cookman University Lady Wildcats, with the final score 56-53 at the Dunn-Oliver Acadome on Feb. 3.
The Lady Hornets had two players score in double statistics figures, led by forward Cordasia Harris, who had a double-double with 18 points and 15 rebounds and freshman guard April Hooks, who added 12 points off the bench. Guard Dakiyah “DK” Sanders added two points, six assists and three steals.
The Lady Hornets entered the second quarter tied at 11-11 after a tightly contested first period. Alabama State got a great contribution from its bench in the period, as non-starters accounted for nine of its 11 total points.
The Lady Hornets turned the first quarter tie into a 26-25 lead before going on a 5-0 run, highlighted by a three from Hooks, to increase its lead to 31-25, a score that would hold until halftime. They were strong from deep in the period, knocking down four three-point shots to account for 12 of its 20 points.
The Lady Hornets wasted no time building on its lead, going on a 6-0 run, punctuated by a basket from Harris, to expand its lead further to 37-25 with 7:39 to go in the third. Before the conclusion of the third period, the Wildcats had cut into that lead somewhat, but the Hornets still entered the fourth quarter with a 46-40 edge. Alabama State played well near the basket, scoring 10 of its 15 points in the paint.
The Lady Hornets then held on for the victory in the fourth quarter. Alabama State took advantage of its opportunities in the post, scoring six of its 10 points in the paint.
The Lady Hornets out played the Wildcats, especially in rebounding, 49-39, in Saturday’s game, led by Harris’ 15 boards. The Hornets also pulled down 17 offensive boards and scored 11 second chance points around the basket. The Lady Hornets’ defense held the Wildcats on lockdown. The Hornets limited Wildcats forward Kayla White, one of the Wildcats star players, to 5-of-17 shooting in the game.
The Lady Hornets turned the first quarter tie into a 26-25 lead. A highlighted play from Hooks increased their lead to 31-25, a score that would hold until halftime. The Lady Hornets wasted no time building on its lead, going on a 6-0 run punctuated by a basket from Harris to expand its lead further to 37-25 with 7:39 to go in the third.
The next opponent will be Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University Rattlers on Feb. 5.