LORMAN &045; Tanika Nunez has heard it since she was in junior high &045; she’s just too short.

So it’s easy to understand how the little 5-5 freshman has taken to her role with the Alcorn State women’s basketball team heading into their third NCAA Tournament appearance in school history. Nunez doesn’t care how big you are &045; she’ll drive to the basket on anyone or hit a 3-pointer no matter what the situation.

And that’s why Alcorn head coach Shirley Walker smiles when you ask her of Nunez. The coach is really proud of her true freshman.

&uot;Nunez has really been a big player for this team,&uot; Walker said. &uot;Her confidence is high just like an upperclassman. She has no fear and has the same attitude. She’s not afraid of height, and she drives hard to the basket. If she doesn’t make it, she makes sure she goes to free-throw line. She’s done an exceptional job.&uot;

The little spark plug from Abbeville, La., has come up big for the Lady Braves at crucial times this season, including Saturday’s SWAC Championship when she canned four 3-pointers against a Southern zone defense that was trying desperately to take away Alcorn’s inside game.

Like a little sister that just won’t go away, there was Nunez each time.

Just go ahead and say she’s too short, and she’ll do it again.

&uot;She stepped up and did a wonderful job,&uot; junior forward Natasha Dennis said. &uot;She didn’t play like a freshman. She played like she’s been here before. She didn’t have any fear in her, and that’s what I love about her. She came in and hit two quick 3’s, and she got us pumped up.&uot;

It’s the only way Nunez may know how to play after excelling in three sports out of high school. Always one to prove height is nothing but a number, Nunez was a standout in basketball, track and softball in high school while searching for a way to latch on somewhere close to home to play basketball.

She had interest from Louisiana-Lafayette and Southern. But Walker was persistent, and Nunez made the choice to be a Lady Brave &045; a decision she hasn’t regretted since the season started.

&uot;I’m playing a lot more than I expected to play,&uot; Nunez said. &uot;Being a freshman, I thought I’d get a little playing time and not as much as expected. Coach Walker heard about me from one of my high school coaches. She came and watched me in one of my playoff games, and I had a career high that game.

&uot;She kept calling me and my family, and we kept in contact the whole summer. I was trying to stay closer to home to give my family a chance to see me play. I chose Coach Walker, the only female coach (interested) and 27 seasons (at the helm). My grandmother liked her, and my mom liked her.&uot;

The veteran coach may have been taken back a bit by how fast Nunez has made an impact, but Walker admitted she saw something the very first game of the season. Starting point guard Shikhia Sims had just been cleared to play in the season opener at Wisconsin-Green Bay, but Walker opted to go with Nunez to start at point in her first collegiate game.

The true freshmen kept her composure, scored four points and made an impression on her new coach. The breakout game may have come when she hit some clutch 3-pointers in the win at Jackson State at the start of conference play.

&uot;In our first conversation, I told her I was definitely interested in her,&uot; Walker said. &uot;I asked her if she would be interested, and she said yes. I was really impressed, and she really has played big for us. I first noticed her when she hit those big 3-pointers against Jackson State. That’s really when she caught me eye.&uot;

There’s been spots in between, however, where Nunez learned the hard way what basketball is like at this level. Nunez had turnover problems at times prior to conference, including six of her team’s 17 in the one-point loss to Louisiana Tech.

She made adjustments to her game, picked it up defensively and blossomed as the season went on. Nunez is second on the team in 3-pointers with 17 and attempts with 49 on a team who’s strength has been its inside game.

Her four triples Saturday may have been the biggest she’s hit so far.

&uot;I was just getting used to the college level,&uot; Nunez said. &uot;I had to make some minor adjustments from high school. It’s the speed of the game, the time limits, the 20-minute halves, getting in shape. I had to bounce back (Saturday). Coach told me it’s not me &045; ‘You’re playing like a freshman. Be a point guard and show up.’ I had to play.&uot;

Now the freshman who people said was too short is in the biggest game of her life Saturday when the 16th-seeded Lady Braves take on No. 1 seed Michigan State.

But like her attitude on the floor, Nunez and the Lady Braves aren’t intimidated by the Big Ten champions.

&uot;Just not being afraid,&uot; she said. &uot;Just because of my size and being small, don’t be afraid. A lot of people said I wouldn’t make it because I’m too short. I never expected (to make the NCAAs as a freshman). That’s a dream come true. All that hard work paid off. If we do what we have to do and execute like we have to execute, we can come up with a big upset.&uot;