The Southern University women’s basketball team defeatedGrambling State University 77-48 in the F.G. Clark Activity Center onSaturday. The win was greatlyneeded for the Jaguars, preseason Southwestern Athletic Conference favoritesafter they lost three consecutive road games.
“We’ve been stressing to the kids all week that we’re in afine position on this second half conference swing,” said Southern head coachSandy Pugh. “At this point it’smore about pride than anything. Itwas more important that the kids came out and executed the game plan.”
Southern (9-10, 6-4 SWAC) and Grambling (8-11, 6-4 SWAC) hadthree ties and three lead changes all within the first seven minutes of thegame. The score was 9-9 when theJaguars went on to take an 11 point lead- with 5:17 left in the half the scorewas 23-12. Southern took that ledinto the second half, the closest Grambling came to the Jaguars was at fivepoints with 16:35 left in regulation.
“It was one of those games where Southern was really tenseand we knew that,” said Grambling head coach David “Rusty” Ponton. “They executed and did everything they could do tonight.”
The Jag’s sophomore power forward Talesha Dokes got a careerhigh 13 rebounds (4 offensive, 9 defensive), and six points.
Southern assistant coach Danny Evans told them at everypractice how much opponents dominated them in the last game because he knew itwould make them play better.
In the last meeting the Lady Tigers sophomore guard LaceyCormier’ grabbed 17 rebounds. Cormier’ finished this game with nine rebounds and nine points.Grambling made 26-of-56 shots from the field; four the 26 shots made was outsideof the paint. The Lady Tigersdefeated Southern 71-51 on January 8.
Southern had three players to score in double digits-sophomore guard Adrian Blake led with 17, junior guard Rolanda Monroe added 16points and sophomore forward Ashley Blake finished with 15. Jag’s freshman forward Krystal Hugginstied her career high nine rebounds and LaToya James grabbed six rebounds, alsoa career high.
In the first half Southern had 10 of their 12 turnovers inthe first half. The Jaguars made60.6 percent of their shots in the second half — 47.6 percent overall. At halftime the Southern wasleading 28-18. The Jaguars led byas much as 23 points.
A crowd of 1,875, the largest for a home game this seasonattended.
The Jaguars next game is on Monday at 5:30 against JacksonState in the F.G. Clark Activity Center.
