RUSTON, La. &8212; Ever wonder what a basketball team does without its leading scorer, rebounder and low-post threat?

Struggle &8212; and struggle mightily &8212; if you base your answer on Alcorn State&8217;s performance Thursday night against Louisiana Tech.

Alcorn missed its first 10 shots and didn&8217;t score for more than seven minutes to start the game, and the Lady Braves (2-6) never recovered in a 77-44 loss to the Lady Techsters.

Alcorn played without starting center Rasaan Powell, who averaged a team-high 18.0 points and 9.3 rebounds in the first seven games of the season. She also led the team by shooting 51.6 percent from the field.

&8220;Without Rasaan Powell on the floor, I think that had a big effect on the whole team,&8221; Alcorn veteran coach Shirley Walker said. &8220;I&8217;m glad we&8217;ve got this (Christmas) break. I&8217;m hoping we can get everybody healthy.&8221;

The 44-point output was Alcorn&8217;s lowest since scoring just 41 in a loss to Michigan State in the NCAA Tournament earlier this year.

The Lady Braves were on track to break its school record for fewest points &8212; set in a 78-38 loss to Georgia in 1999 &8212; before scoring 14 points in the final seven minutes.

Powell missed the game with an ankle injury, sitting on the bench with her right foot encased in an immobilizing boot. Reserve center Tina Huff also missed the game with a chest injury.

Point guard Tanika Nunez did not start after missing a game with a back injury, but she came off the bench and scored Alcorn&8217;s first points with a jumper in the lane with 12:14 to go in the first half.

Tech head coach Chris Long used all 11 available players in the game with none of the Lady Techsters starters playing more than 25 minutes.

Entering the game, Long said he was concerned his team wouldn&8217;t come out with the same emotion and intensity it has used to defeat 24th-ranked Ole Miss Tuesday night.

&8220;I was pleased with the effort,&8221; Long said. &8220;We missed some easy shots early, but it wasn&8217;t from the lack of effort. I was concerned about a letdown but we came out and took care of business.&8221;