LORMAN &045; With enough poking and prodding, Alcorn forward Natasha Dennis will come clean about her game.

She’s just an unselfish player.

But even a player who believes in putting herself last knows when it’s time to step it up. Dennis, a former Wilkinson County standout, picked it up in Saturday’s win over Southern and sparked the Lady Braves back into the first-place slot in the Southwestern Athletic Conference standings.

Now it’s just a matter of staying with it. Dennis and the Lady Braves host Jackson State Saturday and Grambling State Monday.

&uot;The team got in foul trouble early, and I knew I had to step it up,&uot; said Dennis, who finished with 12 points, seven rebounds and five blocks against the Lady Jags. &uot;Somebody had to step in, and I felt confident with my shot. I feel better about myself. I knew the coaches had confidence in me, and I knew it was my time to step up.&uot;

The timing couldn’t have been any better, and it was something the coaching staff may have welcomed with open arms. Dennis has started each game but one at the small forward position but was still waiting on that breakout game the coaches knew she could have.

The contest was her fourth this season to hit double figures in scoring, and it came at just the right time with a win over a good Southern team.

&uot;We had three starters on the bench at the beginning, and I saw Dennis,&uot; Alcorn head coach Shirley Walker said. &uot;This is her third year with us, and that’s the first game I saw Natasha Dennis pick up her game. She saw where three starters were on the bench, and she made it up in her mind and said, ‘Hey &045; it’s time to go.’ She did exactly what we wanted her to do.&uot;

It was the breakout game Dennis herself may have been looking for. The Lady Braves’ offense has operated from the inside out this season with the size advantage they have on most teams in conference, but the scoring source from the perimeter so far has come from point guard Shikhia Sims and LaToya Johnson.

Dennis, who played the post in high school, can battle for a rebound and put up a shot down on the block if need be. But she’s hoping now she’s found a groove to give her club another scoring threat.

&uot;We try to get it inside, try to get the other team in foul trouble and get our people to the free-throw line,&uot; said Dennis, whose average of 6.4 points per game is just under last year’s 6.9. &uot;Shak and Toya have been doing a terrific job of scoring and on defense. If we want to win this thing, everybody is going to have to contribute.

&uot;When I’m on, it’s on. I’m more of a team player. I like to get everybody involved.&uot;

The biggest adjustment Walker and her staff have been wanting to see may have been from her defense. The Lady Braves’ defense has been integral in their wins by creating easy buckets off turnovers to spur the offens &045; they are third-best in the conference in points allowed per game (57.5) but first in points scored (65.5).

Dennis, with her athletic ability and long arms &045; had to get used to playing more away from the basket and defend there as well.

&uot;She gave more than 110 percent Saturday night, and I am very proud of her,&uot; Walker said. &uot;(Her ability to) stay focused has improved a lot. She’s doing well in practice. Dennis is going to shoot it if she’s got it, and nobody is going to stop her. She worked really hard, and it really paid off. If she reads this, I don’t want it to go to her head &045; she was almost perfect Saturday night.&uot;

Dennis’ contributions could come up big again Saturday since the Lady Braves have been without Johnson in practice so far this week with that nagging knee injury. They have big games this weekend &045; now that they’re in first place, they’re all big from here on out &045; as the second round of conference play begins.

The Lady Braves (7-2, 11-6) know the rest of the way won’t be easy.

&uot;When we went back to work Tuesday, it appeared to me that every team is going to play us harder,&uot; Walker said. &uot;They come in here, and I try to tell them this is something they’ve got to understand. You have to keep your mind on what you’re doing.&uot;

The focus for Saturday will be on stopping JSU post player Shelita Burns, who is fourth in the conference in scoring at 14.3 points per game. There’s also realizing what can happen in this conference &045; just like what happened to Alabama State, who dropped two in Texas.

&uot;That was very shocking,&uot; Dennis said. &uot;Anyone can be beaten on any given day. We knew by being in first place that everybody is going to come after us. We’ve got to play to the best of our ability.&uot;