ASU women

Cherea Wood, Daisha Reed, Queriston Hayes &045; the names all started coming back to Alcorn Lady Braves head coach Shirley Walker Wednesday.

It’s been a while since her team opened up SWAC play with a 4-0 mark, and that trio that led the Lady Braves to consecutive appearances in the NCAA Tournament in 2000 and 2001 were the last to be on the verge of getting off to such a solid start in conference.

That group didn’t reach 4-0, and each time you can thank Grambling for that. On Monday the Lady Braves went to Grambling and finally won &045; just their second win in eight tries &045; to sit atop the SWAC.

You have to go to the 1992-93 season Cassandra Anderson, Nikki Tatum and Ira Fuquay led the Lady Braves to a 12-0 start as the last time this happened.

&8220;I’m scared &045; that’s something we haven’t had in a while,&8221; Walker said. &8220;I don’t like to count my eggs before they hatch. I hope we can stay healthy, stay focused and work on our weaknesses. I am very proud of that, but we still have a long way to go.&8221;

Scheduling may have helped some, and the conference may be in a transitional year. But that’s not taking away anything from the Lady Braves, who have come together already probably as well as those teams with Wood, Reed and Hayes that finished with posted consecutive 20-win seasons.

The team lost just one player from a season ago and welcomed only a few new players. And like seasons past, the glue of it all centers around three seniors who came in together as freshmen &045; LaToya Johnson, Candace Roberts and Tnonealyer Powers.

There’s something about this team, they say.

Maybe the rest of the world caught a glimpse of it Dec. 13 against Louisiana Tech. The powerhouse Lady Techster program nearly bit off more than it could chew against what sounded like a walk in the park as the Lady Braves &045; not almost &045; should have beaten Tech.

Yet the Lady Braves didn’t languish over the missed opportunity. It would have been a real treat for Walker, who has met Louisiana Tech and other programs of that notoriety only in the NCAA Tournament &045; which usually meant a head-bashing received by the Lady Braves.

Finally she had them on her court, but they escaped.

Yet it was that game that showed everyone on that team seemed satisfied with her role &045; whether it was starting and playing 35 minutes or just coming off the bench to play defense over a five-minute span.

But now that conference has begun, some of the stronger teams from last year are down a bit. The kingpin may be Southern, but the Lady Jags lost at Grambling. And don’t count out Alabama State.

&8220;To be honest, I think we have a good chance of winning it,&8221; sophomore center Rasaan Powell said. &8220;We just have to stay focused.&8221;

It’s still early. But if Walker’s club stays focused, there may be another productive trio to add to the veteran coach’s memory.

And stay tuned &045; another should be on the way.

Adam Daigle

is sports editor of The Natchez Democrat. Reach him at (601) 445-3632 or at

adam.daigle@natchezdemocrat.com

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