Lady Jags continue SWAC dominance; top Grambling State

After dominating the SWAC for the past couple on months, the Lady Jaguars (8-2 in SWAC, 11-10 overall) looked to hold on to their conference dominance as they went up against the Grambling Lady Tigers(6-4 in SWAC, 9-13 overall).
Saturday night’s contest began with all-around inaccurate offense, featuring multiple turnovers and sloppy play to start the game which led to easy transition baskets for both Southern and Grambling.
Despite the sloppy start to the game for both teams, both squad’s respective offenses came to life around the later parts of the first quarter and throughout the second.
The story of the first half of play however was a somewhat ‘bend but not break’ defense on behalf of Southern defense on Grambling’s Shakyla Hill, who ultimately finished the game going only 3-13 from the field.
“Shakyla is one of the most explosive players in the country. She can go score a bucket, shoot the three ball; [and] there’s really no weakness [offensively] in her game. But we just wanted to make everything tough for her,” said Head Coach of the Lady Jaguars, Carlos Funchess.
Playing staunt defense and making shots in the paint, the Lady Jags established a lead early in the half. Shooting 50% from the field in the first and second quarters, the Lady Jaguars took a 35-31 lead on the Lady Tigers going into the break.
While Southern remained in control throughout the third quarter, it wasn’t on the effectiveness of their offense, but rather the stiff defense that they also displayed throughout the first half of play.
Offensively, turnovers reared their heads in the third, and contributed to the Southern lead being cut to two points late in the quarter, although they never trailed on the night.
The fourth quarter saw the Jaguars extend their lead through tougher interior defense and easy transition buckets. Alyric Scott, who finished the game with 14 points and 12 rebounds, played a pivotal role in the Jaguar lead going into the fourth and final quarter.
In a quarter where the Lady Jags led by as many as 13 points, the fourth was highlighted by a late Jaden Towner three-pointer. After one final, but fruitless, Grambling run, Southern went on to defeat the Lady Tigers of Grambling by a score of 71-65.
While normally an efficient three point shooting team behind the range of shooters like Brittany Rose and Alyric Scott, a late three by Jaden Towner was Southern’s only three pointer of the night.
“The most important thing [for us] is taking quality shots, and having the right people taking those shots; eventually, they’re going to fall,” said Coach Funchess after the game.
Like Southern and Grambling sporting events always do, Saturday night’s game saw a huge crowd come out in support of the Lady Jags as they took on Grambling. Speaking to Coach Funchess after the game, he expressed just how important having the fans come out in the numbers the did was.
“It’s always great to play at home, especially when you have the fans that we had tonight. You’re going to go through some stretches where you’re really tired, but when you hear that crowd cheering for you, it gives you that extra energy,” finished Funchess.