SWAC Basketball Tournament finals

Staff Reports

The Contraband

Déjà vu erupts as Alabama State will face Southern in the Toyota SWAC Basketball Tournament championship game for the second consecutive season Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Toyota Center. Each team enters the matchup as the first and second seed, respectfully.

ALST enters tomorrow’s game with a well seasoned team, returning four of the team’s top five scorers from last year’s tournament win.

One season ago, the Lady Hornets defeated the Jaguars 73-55 to claim their first SWAC championship title in 11 seasons. Jasmine Peeples paced the team with 18 points and nine rebounds, while Britney Wright put up 17 points and seven rebounds. Daniele Ewert and Kayla Tucker also contributed with double figure scoring, collecting 12 points and 10 points, respectfully.

Thus far in the tournament, Wright has hit 39 points with 19 rebounds. Ewert is second in scoring during the tournament for the Lady Hornets with 26 points.

The Jaguars gear up for tomorrow’s game looking to Britney Washington, Briana Green and Courtnei Purnell for big plays. Also returning members of the 2015 championship game, these three student-athletes combine for 70 points in their last two games. Green personally provided 34 of those 70 points.

SUBR head coach Sandy Pugh hopes to collect her fifth SWAC title in tomorrow’s game. She is the only Jaguar coach since 1982 to lead the team to a Conference championship victory.

Head coach Freda Freeman-Jackson is looking to make history by being the first women’s coach at State to win back-to-back titles. The School only has three total with Freeman-Jackson responsible for two.

The Lady Hornets and Jaguars, along with Texas Southern, finished the regular season each sharing a piece of the title with a 14-4 Conference record.