ATLANTA, Ga.- Despite 10 second-half points from senior Marlena Murphy, Campbell's women's basketball team (5-7) lost a 72-71 heartbreaker to Alcorn State (3-7) on Friday, Dec. 28 at The Sports Arena in Atlanta, Ga. at the Georgia State Invitational.

Murphy tallied 12 points and 13 rebounds on the afternoon for CU. Gara Bell had one the best games of her career with 22 points and nine rebounds. Bell shot an amazing 11-for-17 from the field and was a force in each half. Senior Jessica Mack tallied 14 points and four steals. Maggie Rich had a steady performance for CU with 12 points and nine rebounds. Junior Lauren Arthur led the Camels with a career-high seven assists.

The Camels led for most the game until a made jumper from Tanika Nunez gave Alcorn State its first lead of the second half at the 2:11 mark. CU had the chance to take the lead back the next possession but both Camels' free throws rimmed out (2:02). After a defensive stop, Rich knocked down a jumper to give CU the lead once again (1:00), only to see Nunez knock down her three-pointer attempt to take the lead again (:49). A made Rich three gave the Camels a two-point lead (:30) at 71-70. After a defensive stop by CU and pair of missed free throws it was Nunez who made the biggest basket of the game with a running jumper with only :15 seconds remaining to give the Lady Braves the final 72-71 margin of victory. The Camels had one more possession but the suffocating Braves defense was able to force a turnover without a shot attempt to escape with the victory. Nunez led Alcorn State with 15 points.

The game was ultimately decided from the foul line with Campbell shooting 13-for-23 (56.5 percent) and Alcorn shooting 10-of-13 (77 percent). The Lady Braves also had the advantage from beyond the arc and went 8-for-23 (35 percent) to CU's 2-for-11 (18 percent). The Camels won the rebounding battle 46-29, but also turned the ball over 23 times.

In the first half, Gara Bell led the offensive charge with 12 points and six rebounds to give the Camels a 36-35 intermission lead. Mack chipped in 10 points and two steals. Alcorn's Corneshia Hollis kept the Lady Braves in the game with 11 points. The game was very back and forth with six tied scores and 12 lead changes. CU dominated play in the paint holding a 24 to eight advantage.

The Lady Camels will now take on Mississippi Valley State (4-4) at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 29 in the consolation game.

Notes: The double-double was Murphy's seventh of the season and 28th of her career ... this was the first ever meeting between these two teams ... Mack has now registered four steals in three different games this season.