Young women’s basketball team making turn around

With only seven games remaining on the 2007-08 schedule, there is reason to believe there is light at the end of the tunnel for SU Women’s basketball.
SU, a miserable (5-22, 5-13 Southwestern Athletic Conference) last season is currently (8-10, 6-3), good for third in the SWAC behind only Prairie View (14-7, 9-0) and Jackson State (9-10, 7-2). Plus, SU is blazing hot, on a four game winning streak in which the Jaguars beat down Mississippi Valley, 60-46 and swept all three games at home against Alabama A&M, Alabama State and Alcorn on Saturday.
SU’s next two road games at Grambling at 5:30 p.m. Saturday and Jackson State at 5:30 p.m. Monday are games the Jaguars need to win. SU beat the brakes off Grambling the last time the two met, 75-46 but had the roles reversed two days later as Jackson State defeated them 58-46.
But a lot has changed since the JSU loss. That night freshman guard Deidra Jackson led SU with 18 points but had six turnovers and only one assist. Plus, senior center Fredrieka Lewis sat the bench most of the second half and had only eight points and three rebounds.
The key in that loss was that SU lost the rebound battle 39-43 (even though freshman sensation Freda Allen had 13) leading to 37 second half JSU points as the Tigers pulled away for good.
Since that defeat SU is 4-1 with its only loss coming at Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 52-48 on January 19, meaning the Jaguars have been undefeated for nearly a month. Plus, of the four victories, all have come by reasonable margins…Mississippi Valley 60-46, Alabama A&M 55-41, Alabama State 52-35 and Alcorn 46-39.
Grambling (1-18, 0-9) is by far the SWAC’s worst team and was run off the floor, 75-46, the last time the two met in the F.G. Clark Activity Center.
SU shouldn’t have any trouble beating GSU again as the Tigers are on an 18 game losing streak, with its only victory coming against Texas College, 65-42, on November 11.
JSU on the other hand is second in SWAC with conference loses to only PVU, 51-57, in overtime and Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 51-52 Monday. JSU is 4-1 in conference play at home with PVU its only loss.
JSU is a more experienced team than SU and it showed the last time the two met as LaSharee Christian went off for 23 points, six rebounds, four steals and four assists and Shaneese McLin added 14 points, seven rebounds, two steals and two assists.
But a lot has changed since then.
It’s safe to say coach Pugh and staff have turned things around.