Box Score
BIRMINGHAM,Ala. – AlabamaState Lady Hornets (11-7) has advanced to the second round by defeating JacksonState (9-9) 71-52.
AlabamaState was swept in the regular season by Jackson State in their last twomeetings. Losing in overtime 54-58and 76-66 in Jackson, Miss., but the Lady Hornets delivered a win when it countedin the SWAC tournament.
Last yearthe Lady Hornets were defeated by Mississippi Valley State in the first round,but came back this year with one thing on their mind.
“We wantedto redeem ourselves from last year in the first round and not being the seasonchampions,” said Crystal Kitt, senior center and All-SWAC first team selection,who scored 17 points. “We arestriving to be SWAC champions.”
Along withKitt, Latoya Johnson, senior guard, scored 21 points for Alabama State. With the top two scorers workingtogether helped the Lady Hornets advanced in the tournament.
“I knew Ihad to step up tonight and give my all and play hard, be aggressive, and stayon defense,” said Johnson.
“We hadboth seniors (Kitt and Johnson) to step up and play well. They only played that well about two orthree times this year, ” said Alabama State coach Freda Freeman-Jackson.
AlabamaState had the lead in the first half with Kitt shooting a jumper and making afree throw with 1:01 remaining. Jackson’s Patricia Crumble shot a three in the last seconds of the halffinishing the half with 32-23.
With thescore tied at 18-18, Alabama State’s Frantina Coleman made a three and AlabamaState never relinquished its lead throughout the game.
In thefinal seconds remaining Alabama’s Catrina Fincher and Jackson’s Shante Sanfordboth shoot a three making the final score 71-52.
“We have avery young team,” said Jackson State coach Denise Taylor-Lewis. “Even with injuries from two of ourstarter s that were back tonight we didn’t make shots and was out rebounded.”
“They got alot of second chance shots,” said Jackson’s Shante Stanford. “We just couldn’t get it together.” Stanford had 11 points and Crumble had23 points.
AlabamaState moves on to play Southern at 12:30 p.m. in the semifinals on Friday,March 11.
“This willbe a game that whomever plays the best defense will come out on top,” said Freeman-Jackson.
In the lastmeeting between Alabama State and Southern, Alabama State lost 64-62 inovertime.
