Women's Basketball Stumbles Against Lawson State, 76-67

Decatur, AL — Calhoun women's basketball fell 76–67 at home to Lawson State on Thursday night's Homecoming Celebration, as the visiting Cougars used an up-tempo attack to seize control early before holding off a late Warhawk push.

Calhoun kicked-off the night's festivities and entered the matchup with a small-ball lineup in an effort to match Lawson's speed and pace, but the Cougars struck quickly. Lawson poured in 19 points in the opening quarter and followed with 21 more in the second to build a 40–29 halftime advantage. The fast-paced style of the Cougars forced Calhoun into turnovers and turned them into quick points on the other end. The Warhawks could not find an early answer to Lawson State's ball movement and shot creation.

The momentum carried into the third, where Lawson continued to dictate the tempo. Another 20–13 quarter stretched the lead to 18 heading into the final period, putting the Warhawks in a difficult spot entering the final 10 minutes.

In the fourth, Calhoun flipped the script, abandoning the track-meet style and returning to their identity. The Warhawks attacked the paint, played inside-out, and found success on kick-outs to open shooters. The adjustment sparked a 25–16 fourth quarter in Calhoun's favor, but the rally came up short as Lawson closed out the win.

The Calhoun frontcourt once again provided the biggest impact. Kamora Simpson led the starters with 18 points, six rebounds, and two blocks. Off the bench, Jasmine Ervin added 18 points and eight rebounds, while last week's ACCC Player of the Week Jamya Glover chipped in 10 points. Team Manager Courtney Ricketts was also honored with a naming on Calhoun's Homecoming Court during the evening's events.

Following the game, head coach Candace Byrd emphasized the importance of adaptability moving forward. "We've got to be able to adjust when teams force us out of our comfort zone," Byrd said. "Tonight showed us that we can't always play one way, we have to recognize what's working and make those changes sooner. I was proud of how we responded in the fourth, but learning to adapt faster is a big step for us as we keep growing."

Calhoun (11-8, 2-2) will regroup quickly before returning home on Monday, February 2 at 5:30 p.m. to face nationally ranked No. 16 Wallace State (19-0, 4-0).