Braves excited about Alcorn State's first-round NCAA matchup

When they saw their name pop up on the television screen in the honors dormitory, the Alcorn State University softball team immediately ran the spectrum of emotions. "We were excited and shocked," said starting catcher Chelsie Dahlbeck, a 2008 graduate of Estero High School in Estero, Florida.

Excitement is understandable for the team from southwestern Mississippi that will be making its first appearance in the NCAA tournament. The shock factor can be attributed to Alcorn's first opponent in the 64-team field, which was announced Sunday night during a selection show on ESPNU. Alcorn, whose school's undergraduate enrollment is less than 2,700, will meet powerful Alabama, whose 48-9 record and Southeastern Conference title earned the Crimson Tide the tournament's No. 1 seed.

Dahlbeck knows a daunting task awaits Alcorn, but she said it's a challenge that the Lady Braves won't shy away from. "It's a good experience. I know they're looking at us as the underdog. I hope we do well," Dahlbeck said. The double-elimination Tuscaloosa Regional also includes Alabama-Birmingham and Atlantic Sun Conference champion Lipscomb.

Alcorn (24-24) generated a minor miracle just to get into the NCAA tournament. After losing its first game in the Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament, Alcorn had to reel off five straight wins -- including the title clincher against Mississippi Valley State -- to earn an automatic bid.

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Alcorn State Claims 2010 SWAC Softball Championship Title‎

The (Alcorn State University) Lady Braves started the day with an 11-2 rout over Grambling State to secure a place in the championship game against the six-time defending champion (Mississippi Valley State University) Devilettes. In the first inning of the title game, MVSU’s first two batters, Ashley Hobbs and Angelica Wade hoisted home runs out of the park, giving Alcorn State an early 0-2 deficit. However, the Lady Braves answered back at the top of second with a Jennie Hatch homer that drove home two runs. The game would remain knotted at two all for the next five innings.

After a brief rain delay at the top of the eighth inning, Alcorn State returned from the hiatus re-energized as the Lady Braves rattled off three hits while scoring four runs to take the 6-2 lead. The Devilettes looked poised for a scoring surge of their own after an Angelia Jones homer at the bottom of the eighth. However, MVSU wasn’t able to score again, halting a six-year conference championship win streak. Alcorn State was led by Rachel Morris who was 2-for-4 in the game while Haleigh Eubanks led the way for the Devilettes, going 3-for-4.

This is Alcorn State’s first conference championship since 1997, when they were co-champions with Grambling State. With the win, the Lady Braves are automatic qualifiers for the NCAA regional tournament. The softball selection show is set for Sunday, May 16 at 9 p.m. (CT) on ESPNU.

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Coach Shirley Walker honored by Mississippi House‎ of Representatives

Shirley Walker was fired from Alcorn State University on May 16, 2008, after 30 years coaching the Lady Braves basketball team. She finished with a 492-336 career record, winning 11 SWAC championships. However, her final years were tarnished by NCAA sanctions in 2006, for multiple NCAA violations.

LORMAN, MS — Former Alcorn State women’s basketball coach Shirley A. Gibbs-Walker was already a coaching legend in the state. But now she has the stamp of approval from the Mississippi House of Representatives. Walker was honored by the House on Tuesday, where a resolution was passed honoring Walker’s accomplishments on and off the basketball court. "I was very surprised,” Walker said of receiving the honor. “It was breathtaking and it brought back some wonderful memories."

In Walker’s 30-year tenure at Alcorn State, the Lady Braves won 11 regular season SWAC championships, seven SWAC tournament championships and participated in the NCAA tournament three times. Walker, an Alcorn alumnus, won 492 career games and was named SWAC Coach of the Year 10 times. In addition to her accomplishments as head coach, Walker also played an important role as a member of several different NCAA committees.

As a member of the NCAA Division I Basketball Committee, Walker worked to help secure an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament for the champion of the SWAC tournament. "A lot of people don’t know about that,” Walker said. “I’m the one that worked hard and opened the door for SWAC women’s basketball to have an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament."

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Alcorn State names Tonya Edwards women's basketball coach

Photo: Coach Edwards comes to Alcorn State with superb credentials as a winner, including a high school championship, two national championships with the University of Tennessee Lady Vols in 1986 and 1987; was named MVP of the 1987 NCAA Tournament and named to the 1999 WNBA All-Star Team.

LORMAN, MS — After several weeks of searching, Alcorn State has found its new women’s basketball coach. ASU Athletic Director Darren Hamilton announced Monday that the school has hired Tonya Edwards as the new coach of the Lady Braves, pending approval of the board of trustees.

Edwards will be formally introduced to Alcorn fans at an 11 a.m. press conference today at the University Club in Jackson. Edwards comes to Alcorn State after spending the previous two seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Detroit-Mercy. During her tenure she oversaw the budget, scheduled non-conference games and team travel, served as recruiting coordinator and coached the guards.

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