PVU claims first-ever SWAC Tourney with 68-62 win over Jackson State

Birmingham Ala.-Veteran players may have the experience but some rookies just know how to play the game better.
The young Lady Panthers of Prairie View (19-13) conquered the seasoned top-seeded Jackson State Lady Tigers (22-10) 68-62 at the Birmingham-Jefferson Complex Center on Saturday afternoon during the Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament Championship.
With a team consisting of two seniors, a junior, three sophomores, and six freshmen the second-seeded Lady Panthers of Prairie View proved that age is nothing but a number, and skill level is everything.
In defeating the Lady Tigers, Prairie View earned the SWAC Tournament championship for the first time ever in the history of their women’s basketball program.
“Our team has grown up from the previous games,” said Lady Panthers head coach Cynthia Copper-Dyke. “If you look at our team from the beginning season and look at us now, you will see a completely different team. Today we came out with poise and composure. And I’m very proud of where we are today.”
The Lady Panthers shot 40.3 percent from the field and concluded with a percentage of 55.2 at the free throw line against the Lady Tigers.
Jackson State head coach Denise Taylor said that her team didn’t do a good job of executing the game plan, nonetheless, she is proud of them and their accomplishments this season.
“We didn’t follow through on the game plan,” said Taylor. “But I’m proud of these young ladies because they had a really good season and made it this far. And I am proud of what they accomplished.”
All SWAC Player of the Year senior forward/center Shelita Burns contributed 14 points for the Lady Tigers. And junior forward Carena Easely added 14 also.
Copper-Dyke said that she wanted her team to leave everything on the court and give their all.
“I wanted them to know that this is the championship game and to leave everything on the court,” said Copper-Dyke. “There is no reason to save anything. I needed them to go out there and give their all.” And the Lady Panthers did exactly that, they gave their all and nothing less. But a specific Lady Panther went above and beyond the call of duty, freshman forward Candace Thomas led the way to her team’s victory.
Thomas concluded the game with a game high 26 points.
“Candace brought the noise today,” said Copper-Dyke. “She did more than score points because whenever we were in difficulty she was there assist.”
Thomas said that she came out to do what her coach said and that was to leave everything out on the court. She also wanted to get the veteran players a championship.
“I just wanted to do like coach said and ‘leave everything out on the court,'” said Thomas. “I also wanted the older players to be able to leave with a championship.”
Other lead performers for Prairie View were sophomore forward Twila Stokes with 12, and First Team All-SWAC and All-SWAC Freshman of the Year forward Gaati Werema added 10 points.
Senior guard Angel Liddell initiated Jackson’s lead with a layup 1:24 into the game.
However, at 17:36, Lady Tiger Werema’s jumper tied the game 2-2. Then Stokes’ layup which was assisted by junior guard Shavonne Smith made Prairie View able to gain the 4-2 lead. Then consecutive layups from Thomas and Smith capped off the Lady Tigers 8-2 advantage with 16:16 left in the first half.
Subsequent to Prairie’s View’s 6 point lead in the first half, Burns made a layup for the Lady Tigers giving them 4 points on the board.
But after being fouled by Lady Tiger senior forward Shante Stanford, Stokes’ two free throws gave the Lady Panthers the 10-4 lead at 14:50. And from there five more baskets gave them the 11 point lead over Jackson.
In the first half the closest that Jackson ever got to catching up to Prairie View was trailing by six with 1:14 left. But by the end of halftime the Lady Panthers lead by 8 with a 35-27 score.
“We lost composure early on,” said Taylor. “We missed on the layups and easy shots.”
Taylor said she is proud of the effort her team gave.
“We your down it requires a lot of energy to come back up and we did that in the second half,” said Taylor. “I’m extremely proud of these girls for dosing that.”
Yesterday going into the SWAC Tournament finals Copper-Dyke said, “We never know how the freshmen or sophomores are going to play because this is their first time.”
And it is obvious that the young pack of Lady Panthers from Prairie View, Texas have proven themselves worthy of not only the SWAC Championships crown, but earning its first NCAA Tournament berth.
Copper-Dyke also added yesterday that, “No one believed that we would make it here…”
But it was the Lady Panthers positive attitude that gave them the chance to not only compete in the SWAC Championships for the first time but win.
“We did a great job with keeping the right attitude the whole way through,” said Cooper-Dyke. “We always kept a positive attitude even though we were young.”

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SWAC Freshmen of the Year recipient Gaati Werema fires a jumpshot over JSU's Shelita Burns to score two of her 10 total points during Saturday's SWAC Womens Baksetball Championship Game. Werema was active around the basket all game as she grabbed five offensive rebounds and 12 defensive rebounds.