DANCING

They all sat there waiting…some laughing, some quietly, nervously. They sat there clad in blue and gold, waiting anxiously for the words “Southern University” to appear on the television screen.
Sighs of relief were emitted as the names of teams like Duke and Purdue came and went.
Finally, members of the Jaguar Nation who mustered inside Damon’s Restaurant on Sunday released a cheer.
The Southern University women’s basketball team (26-4) is on their way to Boulder, Colo., as the number 14 seed in the western region of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Women’s Basketball Tournament.
“Finally. It’s been so long, and I’ve waited so long. My heart dropped when I saw the 14 seed. I just jumped up for joy,” said Southern head coach Sandy Pugh. “We are just so happy … just trying to absorb all the excitement.”
“Every coach’s goal is to play in March … when I woke up this morning, I was in my bed, I asked myself did yesterday happen … I looked over and saw my luggage and I knew it wasn’t a dream.”
This is the first time since 1993 that a Southern University team has made it to the big dance.
“I can’t believe I’m actually a part of something this big, making history for Southern University,” junior forward Cherise Sims said. “We made a lot of history this year.”
The women will take on the number three seed Colorado (21-8), who is also ranked tenth in the nation.
“We’re happy with our 14 seed,” Pugh said. “For this conference, that’s outstanding … We really don’t know much about them yet but I look forward to playing them.”
The highest seeded team to come out of the Southwestern Athletic Conference was the 1982 Jackson State University team seeded at seven.
No SWAC women’s team has ever won a NCAA tournament game.
The Lady Tigers of Louisiana State University will join the Jaguars in Colorado in the West Regionals
The Lady Tigers (17-11) the number six seed will take on Santa Clara (21-9), the runner-up in the Big West Conference.
“Today is a great day in Baton Rouge,” Pugh said. “Any time you can have two teams in the same town in the tournament, that’s awesome. My hat’s off to coach Sue Gunter and her team.”
If the two Baton Rouge schools win, they’d meet each other Sunday night in the second round for the chance to go to the regionals in Boise, Idaho. LSU holds a 17-3 lead in the series against Southern, and last played each other in 1999.
Once the celebration was over, it was back to drawing board for the Jaguars. Practice sessions will resume, game tapes will be reviewed and then it’s on to Colorado.
“At this moment, I am just so appreciative and very blessed,” said Pugh.