Jaguars return empty handed

LORMAN, Miss. – Sometimes no matter how hard you try to fulfill a goal, you still end up empty handed.
That is precisely what happened when the Southern Jaguars women’s basketball team played Alcorn State’s Lady Braves Saturday night at the Davey L. Whitney Complex. They put in their all and received nothing in return.
With 3.5 seconds left in overtime, Brittany Myatt of Alcorn made two free throws, which eventually gave the Lady Braves the 75-73 win against the Jaguars.
This game was the highest point total of the Jaguars’ season. But the points just weren’t good enough to add them a win.
“The thing that gets my goat is to lose the way we lost it,” SU coach Sandy Pugh said. “It just really bothers me. The kids played their hearts out, and for this to happen the way it did, that’s unfortunate.”
Leading scorers for Southern (2-15, 2-7 Southwestern Athletic Conference) were junior center Fredrieka Lewis, with a dazzling career-best 25 points, junior forward Indi Johnson had 17 points, and forwards senior Ashley Blake and junior Krystal Huggins put in 10 points each.
Freshman Aerica Hicks also added a nine points in the loss.
Alcorn (11-8, 7-2) had multiple players to score in the double digits. Sophomore guard Shawntawnee Collins scored 17 points, junior center Rasaan Powell’s 16 points, 13 points by sophomore guard Tanika Nunez, junior forward Ebony Franklin’s 11 points and sophomore forward Kenisha Daniels including 10.
Alcorn had only four turnovers after halftime and made 27 out of 32 free throws after going to the line.
Southern on the other hand, made three out of nine free throws, which hurt them at the end.
The game had 11 ties and six lead changes.
“I figured it would be that way,” said Alcorn coach Shirley Walker. “I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if Southern went on to win the tournament. Lewis is so hard to stop, and the personnel is so great. It could have been anybody’s game.”
Despite the loss Pugh still believes the Jaguars are the best team.
“I still say we’re the best team in the league. We just haven’t figured it out yet,” Pugh said. “These games will not be losses (in the future).”
The next game for Southern will be Saturday, Feb. 3 when they play rival Grambling State at 5:30p.m. in the F.G. Clark Activity Center.