LORMAN &045; It’s awfully crucial that everyone realize the season has just begun and it’s a long way until March, but Alcorn point guard Shikhia Sims can’t help it.

She likes this year’s Lady Braves squad, and she wants to tell you about it.

&uot;I think we’re coming along pretty well with our chemistry,&uot; said Sims, who had eight points in her team’s 58-48 win over Texas Southern Wednesday. &uot;If we get that, I don’t think anybody can stop us with that. I think we’ve got a good ball club. Our chemistry wasn’t there last year like we wanted it to be, but now our chemistry is good.&uot;

The Lady Braves got off to a solid start in conference with the win over TSU for a 2-0 start in the opening homestand to conference play. It’s also worthy to note the came into conference play with a .500 overall record instead of the customary mark of up to a half-dozen games below.

All that, however, could go for naught this weekend when the Lady Braves hit their first tough conference test of the year. They travel to Jackson State Saturday and Grambling Monday as the conference completes the arduous first two weeks of league play rolled into one week due to the holiday.

&uot;When we were in Atlanta (last week), the bus driver slapped me on the head and said, ‘You know we’ve got a game Monday night, Wednesday night and Saturday night?&uot; Alcorn head coach Shirley Walker said. &uot;What we’ll have to do is regroup, stay focused and do the best we can. We’ve got to stay focused.

&uot;At one time we could go to Jackson and Grambling and come out with two wins, but the competition is tougher now. Hopefully we’ll be able to pull one of them down. We’ll take one at a time.&uot;

That will be the key on this trip, one that’s featured a letdown of sorts on the second leg of the trip in each of the last two seasons. Last season the Lady Braves went to Jackson and pulled the upset, their first win in four tries over Jackson State, but went to Grambling absolutely flat and weren’t in the game.

The year prior they played well at Jackson before coming up short and followed with a letdown two nights later at GSU.

&uot;We just need to take it one game at a time,&uot; senior forward LaToya Johnson said. &uot;That’s all we can do.&uot;

This season, though, both teams aren’t what they were in recent seasons. The Lady Tigers had big Amie Williams in the middle the last two seasons, as did Grambling with Scherwanda Boston at guard.

Jackson State lost Wednesday at Alabama A&M after beating Alabama State by four Monday. Grambling lost the conference opener at A&M Monday.

&uot;It’s still early,&uot; Sims said. &uot;We’ve got a long road ahead of us. It’s the beginning of the season. We’ve got two tough road games coming up. We’ve got to put it together. We’ve been playing pretty well together as a team. We’re going to try to stay focused this time. We’ve got to find a way to get the job done.&uot;

The Lady Braves will go into at least Saturday’s game at Jackson without senior forward Tnonealyer Powers, who went down in the first half Wednesday with a knee injury. A coach on the floor, Powers was expected to see a doctor Thursday to determine the severity of the injury.

She had to be helped off the floor after playing only seven minutes against Texas Southern. Candace Roberts stepped in and posted a double-double off the bench in Powers’ absence.

&uot;She’ll be OK,&uot; Sims said. &uot;She’s a strong player. I know she’ll come back for us. We had to step up (after she got hurt). Everybody has to step up. That’s how it is. Candace Roberts came in and did a great job.&uot;

Roberts’ presence off the bench was pleasant to see for the Lady Braves. The senior from Utica was a standout the last two seasons starting at center alongside Powers at forward but hasn’t started since the second game of the season in the Arkansas Baptist game.

Walker has instead gone with sophomore Rasaan Powell, who has played well with 9.3 points and 7.6 rebounds per game.

Roberts had 13 points and 11 rebounds against Texas Southern and six points in the blowout win over Prairie View. Ebony Franklin and LaToya Wily also came off the bench to help inside.

&uot;I know (Powers) won’t be able to go Saturday,&uot; Walker said. &uot;We do need her. We’ll try to do some things to get her better, but I think it’s more of a mind thing now. I’m very proud of Candace. Rasaan came in and has been doing a great job, but Candace Roberts came in Monday night and (Wednesday) night and did a great job for us.&uot;