BIRMINGHAM, Ala. &045; It was like watching &uot;COPS&uot; or those car chase shows that FOX always airs.

You hated watching Alcorn’s women blow a 12-point lead and lose in the quarterfinals of the 2004 Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament last Wednesday, but likewise, you knew the Lady Braves’ shortcomings were life lessons.

Here’s what not to do to earn a quick exit from the Fair Park Arena with an 81-78 double overtime loss and head back to Lorman:

4Don’t panic &045; The Lady Braves looked uncharacteristically rattled when Grambling initiated its press during the second half. With first-year point guard Shikhia Sims running the show, Alcorn didn’t shoot themselves in the feet with turnovers, but the suffocating defense certainly shook the Lady Braves up.

&uot;Sims was doing a real good job at getting to the basket,&uot; Lady Tiger head coach Rusty Ponton said. &uot;I knew we had to get up on her, so we went to a man pressure where (Sims) couldn’t get up the floor so easily.&uot;

4Don’t miss the small stuff &045; Alcorn was a pitiful 17 of 30 from the foul line, including 5 of 12 in the second half and the first overtime before heating up in the second overtime (8 of 11). The Lady Braves also blew numerous buckets in transition and around the hoop, which might have put away a pesky Grambling team.

&uot;Most of the kids are coming back, so that makes me feel better about next year,&uot; Alcorn head coach Shirley Walker said. &uot;But we’ve gotta find a way to teach shooting free throws. I hope we can find some players who are thoroughbreds because all games are big.&uot;

4Stick with what’s working &045; As the Lady Braves swaggered into the locker room ahead 34-25, they could thank the post play of Tnonealyer Powers and Candace Roberts, who shared the scoring load with 10 points each.

&uot;Coach said we needed to focus on the inside because that was where they were weak,&uot; said Powers, who finished with a double-double of 20 points and 11 rebounds. &uot;We looked to one another early on.&uot;

But in the second half it was a different story. Granted, the Lady Tigers made some defensive adjustments, but Alcorn lost the game’s momentum in trying to extend its lead via the perimeter game and not the high-low between Roberts and Powers that had worked so well for them earlier.

Unfortunately, the 53.6 percent field goal shooting was not there in the final 20 minutes, and the Lady Braves season ended abruptly. Roberts had just two points to finish with 12.

Alcorn and Walker found itself one and done after the 1999 tournament, but returned to go undefeated in back-to-back SWAC Tournaments, making the NCAA Tournament in consecutive years.

&uot;I think this loss will teach the kids something. Losing does wonders for your mental attitude,&uot; Walker said. &uot;We’ll put all the ingredients in the bowl and mix it up next season again.&uot;

The cupboard is certainly not bare, as the Lady Braves lose one senior in role player Shirley Gooch and expect battles at every position. Six-two freshman Rasaan Powell filled in nicely whenever Roberts and Powers need breathers, but could certainly start by next year’s opener.

Likewise, the guard position will have plenty of experience with Sims and All-SWAC second teamer LaToya Johnson returning, with the status of Alicia Gardner still unknown.

Gardner missed the last game of the season against Prairie View, and is currently back in California seeking treatment from a spider bite, which had an adverse affect on her body’s chemistry.

&uot;I’d say we’ll go back and regroup, but you never do,&uot; Walker said, &uot;because recruiting is 12 months, 24 (hours), seven (days) a year. (Grambling) bumped Sims hard (Wednesday), so I’d like to find somebody who sees and runs the floor alongside her or to come in and give her a break.

&uot;The only thing on my mind is every game we lost this year was because of free throws or turnovers. We either beat or split with everybody in the conference except Grambling.&uot;