LORMAN &045; The Alcorn Lady Braves were predicted to finish third again in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, and it’s starting to become habit.

Head coach Shirley Walker will take it with Southern predicted to win it and Alabama State tabbed to finish second. Her Lady Braves lost in the first round of the conference tournament last year but have some key players returning.

&uot;I think we’ve been in this position the last two years,&uot; said Walker, who had her first losing season last year since the 1988-89 season. &uot;I hope we’ll be able to move up a little. We’ll take our time and do what we have to do. We don’t get the No. 1 or 2 players at Alcorn, but we did recruit some players who we feel can come in and give us some good minutes.&uot;

The Lady Braves had two players earn Preseason All-SWAC honors with guard LaToya Johnson on the first team and center Candace Roberts second team. The pair will team with Tnonealyer Powers as the three most experienced seniors this season and will try to improve on last season’s 13-15 mark.

Missed free throws haunted Walker’s club in the loss to Grambling in the tournament, and the team began working on that the first day.

&uot;We’re working on free throws, finish and eliminate the turnovers,&uot; Walker said. &uot;If we can eliminate our turnovers and be healthy, I think we’ll be successful. I hope we can move out of that No. 3 slot. I think we are good enough to play with the other conference schools.&uot;