BIRMINGHAM, Ala., – Southern claimed the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship as Jaguar property when Mississippi Valley State, the Cinderella of the tournament ran out of energy.
The No. 3 seed Jaguars defeated the no. 8 seed Delta Devilettes 68-61 in the 2004 SWAC women’s championship at Fair Park Arena. The win earns the Jaguars a berth in the NCAA National Championship Tournament with the conference’s automatic bid.
“Tough ballgame, we played a very good team, and well coached, you can see that by the way they executed down the stretch,” said Mississippi Valley head coach Nathaniel Kilbert. “We got a little tired out there.”
Mississippi Valley, who advance to the championship game with upset wins over (no. 1) Alabama State and (no.5) Grambling, led most of the game with their biggest scoring margin of nine points at 5:30 before the half.
The turning point of game came at 10:28 left in regulation when the Jaguars turned their defense up. With the score 45-51, the Jaguars held the Delta Devilettes to a scoring drought of 9:58. During that time, Southern went on a 17-0 run taking a lead of 62-51 for only the second time of the night.
“It feels good, I couldn’t have done it without my team,” said Jaguars leading scorer sophomore guard Rolanda Monroe. “We got into a grove in the second half and started to run our offense.”
Monroe scored 21 points, seven rebounds and blocked two shots. For her efforts, Monroe earned Most Valuable Player honors as well as being named to the All-SWAC tournament.
In Southern quarterfinals game on Wednesday against Alabama A&M, Monroe scored her career high of 33 points, in leading the Jags to an 84-76 victory. For the tournament, she shot 26-for-28 from the free throw line.
“She’s hardheaded, stubborn, and won’t run any offense, but she’s unbelievable,” said Southern head coach Sandy Pugh.
Considering that the Jaguars second leading scorer and top rebounder sophomore Ashley Blake fouled out of the game with 6:03 left, Southern led 54-51 and the game seemed as if it would be a battle to the end.
Southern freshman center Fredrekia Lewis became the Jaguars primary option scoring 19 of her game high 24 points. She matched her career high, added 12 rebounds and garnered All-SWAC tournament team honors.
“This whole season they have been driving me crazy, they take me on this whole ride, up and down and all around the world,” Pugh said.
In her fourth year as the coach at Southern Pugh is advanciang to her second NCAA apperance. The first coming during the 2001-2002 season when the Jaguars played at Boulder, Colo, to meet the Colorado Buffalos.
Pugh and the women’s basketball team will be watching the NCAA Women’s Selection Show at Buffalo Wild Wings (Bluebonnet) at 3p.m. in Baton Rouge, to learn who the Jaguars first round foe will be.
