Lady Jaguars defense stifles Alabama State

Southern did something it hasn’t done since 2006, claiming its third consecutive win with a 52-35 defeat of Alabama State Monday night at the F.G. Clark Activity Center.
SU (7-10, 5-3 Southwestern Athletic Conference) is 2-0 on its three game home stand with only Alcorn State left to play and has matched its total of SWAC wins from last season (finishing 5-22,5-13).
Senior Indy Johnson was the lone Jaguar to score in double figures with 10 points and eight rebounds. Freshman Freda Allen continues to dominate the glass as she had 12 rebounds, six points a block and three steals.
“When we click on all cylinders and get everybody focused on playing defense, hustling, boxing out and rebounding while doing all the little things well, we’re not a bad team. We can play with some people,” said SU coach Sandy Pugh. “But the first time we have a measure of success and then you want to shut it down, that can’t happen. You have to stay focused.”
SU came out focused and stayed that way all game holding ASU scoreless in the first 12 minutes to build a 25-0 lead.
Plus, SU never trailed even though ASU outscored them 8-2 in the final eight minutes of the first half as the Jaguars went 1-for-5 from the field, 0-for-4 at the free-throw line and had four turnovers.
SU committed 22 turnovers, one more than ASU (21) but still found a way to win through defense. Most of ASU’s turnovers came in the first 12 minutes of regulation as the Hornets turned the ball over 11times.
SU’s hot shooting tailed off toward the end of the first half as the Jaguars were outscored 8-2 in the final eight minutes. During that stretch SU was 1-for-5 from the field, 0-for-4 at the free-throw line and with four turnovers.
Sluggish play from the Jaguars continued in the second half but ASU’s margin was too great for a come back. In fact, the closest ASU came was within 38-24 with 8:34 left to play.
Alabama State’s LaShundreya Townsend led all scorers with 11 points while Assunta Fulgham pulled in 11 rebounds.
SU’s three game home stand comes to an end on Saturday when the Jaguars face Alcorn State. Game time is set for 2 p.m.