Southern women’s basketball signs three

Southern University head women’s basketball coach, Sandy Pugh, has announced the signing of three additions to the women’s team for next season.
Signing to the Jaguar Nation is 6’1 Lake Providence High forward Freda Allen, 5’9 Wossman-Monroe shooting guard Ashley Augurson and 5’5 Madison-Tallulah point guard Aerica Hicks.
“These kids coming in right now are athletic,” Pugh said. “When you’re that fast, basketball is a lot easier if you get it up the floor, press a lot more. That takes a lot of pressure off Fredrieka offensively.”
The Lady Jags will lose five players from its 20-11 team that won the Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament and tied for the regular-season title: two-time SWAC MVP Rolanda Monroe, guard Adrian Blake, forward Ashley Blake, forward Latoiya Hill and guard Ciara Shiggs. Freshman forward, Deshundra Antoine has also left the team.
“I’m hoping we’ll be able to put (Fredrieka) up on the ball in some of our presses and we can be able to use those kids’ athleticism, where they can just play basketball — trap, run, get a lay-up, get the jumpshot — instead of running so many half-court sets we had to run,” Pugh said.
Allen was a Class 2A All-State honorable mention selection, as well as a member of the All-Northeast Louisiana Small School Team. She averaged 16 points, 15 rebounds and seven blocks per game. She was on the 2A All-State second team last season after averaging 17.0 ppg as a junior.
“Long arms,” Pugh said. “Extremely athletic. She can shoot the three. Plays with incredible toughness. She’s that big, athletic small forward we’ve been wanting.
She runs the floor well, she can handle the ball well, she can pass, she can finish. Great kid, good family, good student.”
Augurson was a Class 3A All-State honorable mention this season after being a Class 4A All-State honorable last season. She also finished seventh in the 4A state meet in the javelin a year ago, averaging 16 ppg, 13 rpg and five assists per game.
“Mid-range jumper, slasher, strong, great frame” Pugh said. “Probably one of the biggest sleepers in the state. Her upside is unbelievable.”
Hicks was a three-year starter, who averaged 21.3 ppg, 7.0 apg, six rpg and 3.0 steals per game as a senior.
“Aerica will be the fastest kid I’ve ever coached,” Pugh said. “Shoots the 3 (pointer) exceptionally well, has a nice stroke on it. I think the biggest thing she’s going to bring to us is that open-court defender, somebody who can sit on the ball and just harass. We’ve never had that here.”