Jaguars grind out win over Alcorn

 
LORMAN, Miss. – The Southern women’s basketball team is known for playing defense and controlling the boards.
The Jaguars (12-11, 11-5 Southwestern Athletic Conference) did just that producing enough offense to defeat Alcorn State 35-32 Saturday at the Davey L. Whitney Complex.
The Jaguars shot 35 percent from the field and only scored 17 points in the first half. In the second half, Southern scored 18 points and shot 26 percent from the field.
Defensively, the Jaguars handled business allowing the Lady Braves (10-18, 8-8) to shoot only 29 percent from the entire game.
“We came out defensively really solid especially in the second half down the stretch we didn’t give them any open looks,” said assistant coach Carlos Funchess.
No one on the court manage to make it into double digits but Jamie Floyd, Jasmine Jefferson, and Kendra Coleman all manage to come close scoring eight points a piece.
“Jamie Floyd did a real good job she was getting double-team the whole time,” said Funchess. Floyd led the team in rebounds grabbing 11 boards.
The Jaguars defense stiffened in the second half allowing the Braves to only shoot 23 percent from the field.
Although Southern defense was great ASU defense was just as good, or the Jaguars just couldn’t make any buckets.
“I thought we got some good looks teams making us take jumpers clogging lanes because we so big down in the paint so that’s one thing we got to work on we got to knock down some shots and make them come out and get the ball inside,” said Funchess addressing the Jaguars struggles shooting.
The Jaguars are tied for second place in the SWAC with Alabama A&M (16-10, 11-5) and know that in order for them to get back on top they will need to win out and then some. Mississippi Valley State (16-12, 13-4) clinched the top seed in the SWAC Tournament and at least a share of the regular season title by holding off Jackson State 72-62 in double overtime Monday.
“We are trying to make sure we hold our position because it’s tournament time and that’s going to play a big part in the seeding,” said Funchess.
The Jaguars are at home to face Prairie View A&M Thursday and if Southern plans on being successful against the panthers they will need to be successful putting points on the board.
“We battle hard if we don’t score many points you better make sure the other team doesn’t score any points,” said Funchess.
“We are going to come in and play hard and try to get in tournament mode because after these two games its one and done so everybody is going to have to step up and play their best.”
Southern ends the regular season this week at the F.G. Clark Activity Center, hosting Texas Southern Thursday and Prairie View A&M Saturday.