Though 5’8” Adrian Blake,Southern University Women’s Basketball guard didn’t start in the MississippiValley State game she came out to play a leading role in the Jags’ 47-29victory. Blake scored a game-high18 points, 13 of which came in the first half.
“I’m just playing my role,whatever it takes to win that’s what I do,” Adrian said.
In the 27 minutes the sophomorewas on the court in the first half, the Jaguars made 12 of 25 shots for 48percent in the first half and went to 36.5 overall.
“The thing about Adrian is thatshe has been our super-sub, our energizer bunny off the bench,” said SU Women’sBaskeball head coach Sandy Pugh Monday night in the F.G. Clark ActivityCenter. “She brings it — and shedid that tonight.”
Blake tuned up her game in atime when the team’s usual high scorers junior guard Rolanda Monroe (average21.0 points per game) and sophomore forward Ashley Blake couldn’t score. Also offensively Mississippi Valleystill struggled. The Devilettesmade 9 of 4 shots from the field and totaled a 16.7 percent shootingoverall.
“That might have been part ofthe problem,” said Mississippi Valley Women’s Basketball head coach NateKilbert. “We were so worried aboutRolanda a lot of these other kids that were pretty good ball players stepped upand had a big game on us. She wasour main focus and we wanted to make sure she didn’t beat us tonight.”
Monroe went 1-for-11 with fourpoints, all netted in the first half; she led the team with eightturnovers. Ashley Blake scored sixpoints and captured 15 rebounds.
At the start of the second halfthe Jaguars (8-7, 5-1 Southwestern Athletic Conference) and the Devilettes(5-9, 3-2 SWAC) hit a scoring drought going a full six minutes before Jags’freshman forward Krystal Huggins hit a jump shot to end it sending Southern up33-18.
Huggins, the only other Jaguarbesides Adrian Blake to score in double digits finished with 10 points andeight rebounds. Sophomore centerLaToiya Hill scored seven points and five rebounds.
The next three games for theJaguars will be on the road. Thefirst one is set for 1 p.m. Saturday at Alabama State in Montgomery, Ala. Thenthe Jaguars will head to Alabama A&M and then on to Alcorn State University. The next home game for the women is Saturday,Feb. 5, against the Grambling State University Lady Tigers at 5:30 p.m.
The Jaguars’ victory was Pugh’s60th SWAC win and moved her within 13 games of reaching her 100th career win atSouthern.
