LORMAN &045; The calls began last week after the Alcorn released its women’s basketball schedule for this season, and most have been about one particular game.

Veteran head coach Shirley Walker was glad to oblige.

&uot;They say, ‘Is that true?’&uot; Walker said of her Lady Braves’ Dec. 13 home game against powerhouse Louisiana Tech. &uot;I’ve been getting phone calls, and people have been stopping by. I just want us to do well &045; win, lose or draw.&uot;

It’s the biggest attraction on the revised schedule Alcorn officials released last week, and it’s one school officials hope can turn a big crowd and spark interest in the Lady Braves’ program. Walker, who enters the season with a career mark of 432-280, is coming off her first losing season in 15 years with the Lady Braves.

Yet for the coach who enters her 26th season, the game will be kind of like old times.

&uot;In the past, we’ve had a lot of SEC schools come and play me,&uot; Walker said. &uot;You don’t see it that often. I’ve had LSU, Ole Miss and Alabama. Southern Miss used to come to me, but now they go to Jackson and Grambling. I’ve always had a relationship with Louisiana Tech, and we’ll return the following year.&uot;

Walker’s clubs have faced Louisiana Tech in seasons past &045; in the first round of the 2000 NCAA Tournament, a 95-53 Tech win; during the 1997-98 season, a 75-53 Tech win &045; and are winless in six tries against the Lady Techsters.

Walker had a close relationship with longtime Tech head coach Leon Barmore as with other veterans in the business, including former LSU head coach Sue Gunter. Gunter’s Lady Tigers were the last marquee name to visit Alcorn for a game, and the Lady Techsters are the first for a team that normally faces this type of competition on the road during November and December.

&uot;We want to do well and compete with the best,&uot; Walker said. &uot;You play 80 percent Division I, and I’ll go back and get a Texas College, a Philander Smith or some Division IIs or IIIs. I didn’t see where it would really do any good for my people and for the team. I want somebody to come in and really give us a good test to let us know where we are and what we can and cannot do.&uot;

The Lady Techsters will come to Lorman as part of a pre-conference schedule that includes three trips to Mississippi &045; Nov. 24 at Ole Miss and Nov. 30 at Mississippi State. After the Alcorn game Kurt Budke’s squad will return home two days later to host powerhouse Tennessee.

That stretch will be a defining one. The Lady Techsters lost three players off last year’s rosters to the WNBA (Trina Frierson, Seattle; Amisha Carter, New York; Amber Obaze, Washington) and will not have the services of All-American guard

Erica Taylor, who is expecting and will not be available until January.

Tech has one Mississippi product on the roster, former Provine star Tosha Christmas.

&uot;When we put this schedule together, it was with the thinking that we would have one of the deepest, most talented backcourts in America,&uot; Budke said last month. &uot;I thought our guards could carry the load while the new people adjusted to the college game. It’s a challenging schedule before Christmas without your All-American.&uot;

That’s all talk well over Walker’s and the Lady Braves’ heads, but the contest is quite noteworthy for the Lady Braves. It’s a huge opponent for the team’s three veteran seniors, guard LaToya Johnson, forward Tnonealyer Powers and center Candace Roberts, and it’s also a chance for Alcorn to draw a nice gate for a women’s game.

&uot;It’s made them feel good that Louisiana Tech is coming to our home court,&uot; Walker said. &uot;This class has never had that. I have some seniors going into this game, and I want them to feel good about themselves. I am hoping we can put some people in the stands. I think people will come out here and would love to see the game. Why not come and look at some women’s basketball?&uot;

The Lady Braves hope to have a better product this season after struggling through their 2003-04 campaign. Walker added some depth at the guard position along with a good-looking freshman in 6-0 center LaToya Wily out of Laie, Hawaii.

Walker is also high on 5-5 freshman guard Tanika Nunez out of Abbeville, La. Practices begin later this month.

&uot;(Wily) is a hard worker,&uot; Walker said. &uot;She’s smart. As far as skills, she looks pretty good. She’s a big body. (Nunez) is an all-around player. They’re roommates, and they work hard together.&uot;