BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Fredrieka Lewis cried, Rolanda Monroe met her in center court and became engulfed in the center’s hug. Monroe and Lewis played the Heat’s Shaq and Wade all season.
Now, it’s time to celebrate!
For the third time in five years Southern took the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship.
The Jaguars defeated Alabama State 61-58.
“I was shocked I didn’t expect to get it,” Lewis said of her MVP honors. “I thought ‘Ro was going to get it.”
Lewis and Monroe combined for 33 points.
Free throw shooting pushed the top seeded Jaguars to victory Saturday night at the BJCC Arena.
SWAC two-time MVP senior guard Rolanda Monroe shot perfect from the free throw line making 13 baskets and finished with 17 points. Sophomore center Fredrieka Lewis won SWAC tournament MVP honors. She scored 16 points for the Jags.
“This is sweet, I’m loving this,” Southern coach Sandy Pugh said. “I think the first time I was just like okay this has been a long year, we’re supposed to win I think. The second time its like ‘these little babies done won this tournament’. This time I’m celebrating I plan to have a good time tonight. This one is sweet.
Southern last won the title in 2002 and 2004 seasons.
This victory also earned them an automatic berth to the NCAA tournament.
Within the last 1 and 1/2 minutes Monroe’s free throws kept the game out of the Lady Hornets reach.
In the second half the Jaguars (19-10) made 90 percent of their free throws. Down the line that accuracy kept them atop Alabama State (17-13).
The score was tied 46-46 with 6:05 left to play and Lewis hit three jumpers that started a 7-1 run and put the Jaguars up 53-47 with 3:45 left to play.
The Lady Bulldogs tried to inch back into the game, but toward the last 3:46 Southern lived off free throws and led 53-47.
As Monroe went to the free throw line, two lay ups by Latille Ross and free throws by Tashia Holston put the score at 57-53 with 40 seconds left.
Shantate Robinson forced Tiffany Jones into an offensive foul on the inbounds pass and the Lady Hornets got the possession back.
Then Holston shot a 3-pointer to push the score 57-56 with 33 seconds left. Monroe came back and made two more free throws, Ross made a layup and the score was at 59-58 with 14 seconds left. After a timeout Monroe sealed the deal with her free throws. Robinson tried for a 3-pointer, it didn’t fall and Ross with the offensive rebound missed the put back.
“I thought we had a great game plan,” Alabama State coach Freda Freeman-Jackson said. “(We) went into the game thinking its March Madness it shouldn’t make a difference which team won the game and I thought that it was very unjust for the referees to determine the outcome of the ballgame.”
Last season Lewis sat behind the bench nursing knee and ankle injuries. Lewis gained a medical red shirt after playing in a hand full of games. Part without a huge post present; Southern fell 56-47 in the finals to Alcorn.
