Box Score
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -Southern junior guard Rolanda Monroe led her team to a 59-54 victory overMississippi Valley State, Wednesday afternoon.
Monroe, this season’s SWAC player of the year, hit 9-of-17from the field and scored a game-high of 26 points.
Monroe entered the game with a fierce look of intensity inher eyes. Her tenacity and strength during the game showed that her look couldbe turned into action.
“When she has that look in her eyes, she is in the zone, andit is awfully hard for anyone to stop her,” said Southern head coach Sandy Pughof Monroe.
Mississippi Valley had no answer for Monroe despite using a varietyof double teams the entire game.
“Our game plan was to not let Monroe score,” said Valleyhead coach Nathaniel Kilbert.
“We didn’t think that Monroe could beat us, but ourassumption proved fatal.”
A focused Monroe, torched the Valley defense, scoring 19points on 7-of-12 shooting in the first half despite numerous double teams andtraps.
“I was fired up. We were all fired up in the locker room,and we came out ready to bring the heat,” said Monroe.
Monroe’s intensity almost put a Jaguar win in jeopardy. With11:52 left in the game and Southern clinging to a 45-39 lead, Monroe picked up herfourth foul but true freshman Megan Berard’s 3-pointer gave the Jaguars a 50-42cushion with 8:52 remaining in the game.
Berard scored a career-high 15 points, shooting a blistering4-of-6 from three-point range. She also chipped in six rebounds.
“Megan has been in the zone for the last couple of games,”said Pugh. “She came up to me and said ‘Coach, I want a ring,’ and I said ‘Youhave to play and go get it’. She’s been zoning and playing to get it eversince.”
Valley reserve Falon Holinaty led the Devilettes with 13points.
Southern will advance to face the No. 2 seed Alabama StateLady Hornets Friday at 10 a.m. in the semifinals. This game will feature theSWAC tournament champions from the previous three seasons with Alabama Stateclaiming the title in 2003 and Southern winning titles in 2002 and 2004.
