The Natchez Democrat

LORMAN &045; They might have entered Alcorn State as total strangers, but Tnonealyer Powers and Candace Roberts stayed together, worked together and laughed together.

Now seniors, the Lady Braves’ tandem in the post has been through it all &045; perhaps except what happened to Roberts earlier this season when all of a sudden the minutes on the floor dried up.

So there was Roberts &045; a fourth-year senior &045; coming off the bench for just six minutes in a win at Jacksonville State. To say she was frustrated about it would be the understatement of the year.

Roberts would have walked through broken glass to get more playing time. So Powers did her best to keep her spirits high.

&uot;I talked to here and tried to keep on encouraging her to work on her shot,&uot; Powers said. &uot;I told her we needed her to don’t get down on herself. The team wouldn’t get down on her. It was pretty hard. I just had to talk to her and keep on encouraging her.&uot;

It was tough on Roberts, who entered the season 22nd in school history in scoring, ahead of Powers. The 5-11 Utica native started 26 of 28 games last year and averaged just under 10 points seven rebounds a game.

Yet she struggled in her first two games of the season. Sophomore Rasaan Powell was playing well and moved into her spot, and Roberts had to adjust to a new role.

That was back in November. Now Roberts has resurfaced after Powers went down with a knee injury against Texas Southern last week, and she’s picked up her game tremendously heading into the Lady Braves’ homestand this weekend.

&uot;It was a minor slump, and everybody goes through a minor slump some time,&uot; said Roberts, who had 13 points in each win over Jackson State and Grambling. &uot;Once it’s over, it’s over. Now it’s over, and it’s time to play. I just kept coming in the gym, working on my game. When they called my name, I had to do the best I could do when I got on the floor.&uot;

The slump was filled with lots of iron on her shots both from the field and from the line. Her lines from the first two games were two she’s rather you not mention &045; 1 of 11 from the field and 1 of 4 from the line in 20 minutes in the opener at Wisconsin-Green Bay and 1 of 6 from the field and 1 of 2 from the line in 10 minutes against Arkansas Baptist.

Roberts ran into foul trouble despite her club pounding ABU 104-30, and she came off the bench for the next eight games.

But when Powers got hurt, there was Roberts to pick up her slack.

&uot;I am very proud of Candace Roberts,&uot; Alcorn head coach Shirley Walker said. &uot;Even when she lost her position, she kept the good attitude and the leadership. When Powers went out, Candace Roberts came in and did a super job. She’ll give you everything she’s got, and I’m very proud of that.&uot;

Roberts made her biggest splash right after Powers went down with a MCL strain 10 minutes into the Texas Southern game. Roberts finished that game with a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds, her best since her 18-point, 11-rebound performance last year at home against Mississippi Valley.

Roberts got the start against Jackson and Grambling at forward alongside Powell at center. She also did better at the free throw line after making only 97 of 183 free throws last season.

&uot;When I get out there, I want to do what I can do to help the team,&uot; Roberts said. &uot;I was in a slump, but my teammates picked up what I was doing. We’ve got people out, but we’ll continue to play. We just have to keep our heads up.&uot;

Powell’s productivity in the middle was part of the reason why Walker and her staff made the switch &045; Powell had 10 points and 10 rebounds at half against Louisiana Tech. But the job for Walker was keeping Roberts’ morale high despite losing her position on the floor.

Roberts had just 15 minutes on the floor in the blowout win over Prairie View to open conference, but she kept contributing. And Walker showed she wasn’t about to give up on an experienced senior.

&uot;I tell them it’s not all about who starts &045; it’s who gets the job done,&uot; Walker said. &uot;It’s about all of us getting together as a family and doing the things we need to do in order to win.&uot;

Now that Roberts is back playing well, the attention is focused back on Powers and getting her healthy. She remains questionable for Saturday’s game, and everyone may have a better idea after today whether or not she’ll play.

&uot;It depends on what (trainer) Eric (Lewis) tells us what to do,&uot; Walker said. &uot;I don’t want to rush her. But we do miss her a lot.&uot;

Until then, Roberts will keep pushing her to return the favor. The Lady Braves are in first place in SWAC play, and neither is interested in giving that up despite slumps or injuries.

If things work out, one day the two will get together and just laugh about the whole ordeal.

&uot;When (Powers) goes out, I’ll try to pick up her slack,&uot; Roberts said. &uot;She’ll pick up mine, too. She’s always been there for me, making sure I have a positive mindset.&uot;