Sweet victory for the Southern Jaguars

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – As the Human Jukebox struck up the Southern University Fight Song the crowd turned to see fourteen faces.
Fourteen faces etched with excitement. Fourteen faces engraved with nervousness. Fourteen bodies shrouded in Columbia blue and gold.
Fourteen dedicated, determined athletes ran into Fair Park Arena spurred on by their fans.
Fourteen young ladies … a team … a team determined to go the distance. Determined to win it all.
They go through their usual pre-game warm-up, only this time the level of intensity is much higher.
They warm-up in total concentration … waiting for tip-off.
The clock continued to tick of the seconds left until tip-off … five minutes … four minutes … three … two … one … Game time.
Hours later it’s all over … the Southern University women’s basketball team (26-4) is the 2002 Southwestern Athletic Conference Champions.
For the first time in school history, the women stand alone as the victorious ones.
“There are no words to describe it,” said junior forward Tremesha Colbert. “We just want to enjoy the moment.”
The crowd spills onto the floor congratulating the team, who never trailed in their 69-56 win over the Lady Hornets of Alabama State University.
The band serenades a team who set a goal, pursued the goal and achieved the goal.
“This is a great feeling. It finally happened for us,” said the Jaguars leading scorer Jacklyn Winfield, who finished the game with 32 points, going 7-10 from three-point range.
The contest between two teams determined to be the best, was a showcase of the best the SWAC has to offer.
“I wanted to show the country that there is basketball being placed in the SWAC,” said Southern head coach Sandy Pugh.
Southern’s route to victory began at last year’s championship game, as the Jaguars sat and watched the game from the stands . It was at that moment that the Jaguars vowed to get a SWAC title.
“Jackie told me last season they would give a SWAC championship … Next year would be our year,” said Pugh.
“I wanted those nets,” said Winfield, in the post-game press conference.
Although the Jaguars led the entire game, the Lady Tigers did manage to get within five points of the lead, placing them into a position spoil the Jaguars chances for victory.
“We had been down a lot all season-we have heart, but this time we just couldn’t make the big plays … we played flat,” said Alabama State head coach Freda Freeman-Jackson. “The Jaguars played solidly the whole game.”
In winning the championship title the Jaguars have propelled themselves into the National Collegiate Athletic Association tournament.
“We knew we could shut them down …We knew we could win,” said Pugh. “We knew we had to slow them down and make them play our game, pressure them and make them take that shot their coach didn’t want them to take.”
“They did a great job off-setting our set-up,” said Freeman-Jackson. “They pressured us, placing our players where they shouldn’t have been.”
Crystal Kitt, the six-feet-five-inch freshman from Mobile, Ala., led the Lady Hornets to defeat with 13 points, 13 rebounds and five assists.
“This loss was a team effort,” said Kitt. “Everything we do, we do it as a team … When we win it’s a team victory and when we lose, we lose as a team.”
Also adding to the Lady Hornet’s effort were Shameka Jackson and Chrishutta Lewis with 13 points a piece.
“I congratulate the Jaguars, they are great team,” said Jackson. “You could tell they really wanted this … next year will be Alabama’s year.”
After all that has been said and done, it can be agreed upon that this year’s edition of the Southern Jaguars is something is reckoned with and admired.
“I am so proud of this group … they are easy to coach. I don’t do much coaching, I prod and make suggestions,” said Pugh. “For three weeks I had been pushing and pulling. I told them it’s time for me ride and this weekend, I rode.
“Tonight was a culmination of all the effort and hard work. I want to hold onto this moment as long as I can. I just want to hug these kids and tell them I love them over and over.”
Saturday’s on-court celebration came to an end as senior Jacklyn Winfield climbed atop the ladder leading to the net that waited anxiously to be cut down. She held onto the rim checking out the view from the top … a place she and her teammates belong.

Gallery • 1 Photos

Tiffany Womack gets pumped up before the SWAC Championship game. Photo by Brandi Jade Thomas/DIGEST