LORMAN, Miss. (Interstat) — The Alcorn State Lady Braves used a dominant first half and weathered a third-quarter surge by Mississippi Valley State to secure a 67-56 victory in a Southwestern Athletic Conference women’s basketball game Tuesday night at the Davey Whitney Complex.

A crowd of 386 watched as Alcorn State improved to 16-11 overall, while Mississippi Valley State fell to 6-22.

The game was effectively decided in the opening 20 minutes, where Alcorn State built a commanding 39-25 halftime lead. The Lady Braves shot efficiently from the field, hitting 7 of 18 three-pointers in the game, and capitalized on a staggering disparity in ball security. Alcorn State forced 25 Mississippi Valley State turnovers, converting them into 28 points, while committing only 14 turnovers themselves. The Lady Braves also tallied 16 steals and 16 assists, showcasing a cohesive defensive and offensive effort.

Mississippi Valley State’s Devilettes, however, refused to capitulate after the break. They emerged from halftime with renewed energy, outscoring Alcorn State 18-8 in the third quarter. A key sequence saw the Devilettes tighten their defense, forcing several empty possessions by the Lady Braves. Offensive rebounds and second-chance points, an area where Mississippi Valley State held an 18-5 advantage overall, fueled the comeback bid, trimming the deficit to just four points at 47-43 heading into the final period.

The most important part of the game was Alcorn State’s immediate and decisive response to that threat. As the fourth quarter began, the Lady Braves reasserted control, opening the period on a 10-2 run to stretch their lead back to 57-45. They regained their offensive rhythm, particularly by attacking the basket, and locked down defensively to halt the Devilettes’ momentum. Mississippi Valley State could not sustain its third-quarter efficiency, shooting just 30.2 percent from the field for the game, including 3 of 23 from beyond the arc.

Nakia Cheatham, a 6-foot junior from Clarksdale, Mississippi, led all scorers with 17 points for Alcorn State, adding four assists. Kiarra Henderson of Fort Worth, Texas, contributed 11 points and four assists, while Maya Claytor of Wahiawa, Hawaii, chipped in 12 points. The Lady Braves’ depth was evident as nine players scored, with Jeanee Anderson providing a spark off the bench with five points and three assists in just five minutes.

Mississippi Valley State was led by Ariel Jefferson of Clarendon, Arkansas, who scored 12 points and recorded two blocks. Jaeda Murphy of Chicago played a game-high 39 minutes, finishing with nine points.

The victory completed a regular-season sweep for Alcorn State, which had defeated Mississippi Valley State 75-72 on Feb. 5. The Lady Braves finished the game with an offensive rating of 93.0 points per 100 possessions, significantly outperforming the Devilettes’ rating of 70.9, underscoring their superior offensive execution throughout the contest.

Both teams return to action Thursday in their regular-season finales. Mississippi Valley State travels to face Jackson State, while Alcorn State hosts Arkansas-Pine Bluff.