SU teams gear up for key ‘Bama trip’

As usual, Southern women’s head coach Sandy Pugh has her squad right in the thick of things as Southwestern Athletic Conference play begins to heat up.
But with a crucial swing through Alabama this weekend matching the Jaguars against Alabama State on Saturday and league-leading Alabama A&M on Jan. 24, SU will travel with only eight players on its active roster.
SU (7-7, 4-2) lost Freda Allen, who Pugh referred to as the team’s “heart,” on Saturday against Arkansas-Pine Bluff when she injured her left knee. Shortly after her MRI results arrived on Wednesday, Pugh confirmed Allen would miss the remainder of the season with a torn ACL.
Allen is scheduled for surgery next Thursday.
Also, Aerica Hicks is out indefinitely with a fractured kneecap.
“This trip will show the character of this team because we’ve been tested to the max with the loss of Freda,” Pugh said. “Now everyone’ roles have changed. Everyone has to step up and play valuable minutes now.”
Then there is Tenesha Brown, who suffered a leg bruise as she collapsed to the floor attempting a foul in the closing seconds of Monday’s 61-56 loss to Mississippi Valley State.
“We’re expecting Tenesha back Monday,” Pugh said. The women are coming off a 52-46 win over UAPB and a 61-56 loss to Mississippi Valley.
The SU men (3-15, 3-3) will face Alabama State on Saturday and Alabama A&M on Monday night, also.
“We’ve had a tough time, but I believe we’re starting to gel,” men’s head coach Rob Spivery said. “This road trip will certainly tell where we are as a team.”
SU is coming off a two-game win streak with a 70-60 overtime win over UAPB and a 57-54 win over Valley.