Jan. 30, 2006

Final Stats

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Even though the final score is the ultimate decider of success in college basketball, the biggest number posted by Alabama State in its win over Prairie View A&M wasn't tallied on the scoreboard.

The Lady Hornets (8-9 overall, 6-3 SWAC) pulled down a staggering 75 rebounds - a modern-day school record - in their 61-51 win over the Lady Panthers. The effort on the boards - ASU nearly doubled Prairie View's total (75-38) - was so dominant that it clearly caught the eye of head coach Freda Freeman-Jackson.

"This was our best job rebounding since I've been here," said Freeman-Jackson, who has spent nearly 20 years around the Lady Hornets' program as a player and coach. "To grab 75 rebounds is absolutely remarkable."

Leading the charge was sophomore forward Latille Ross, who pulled down a career-high 19 rebounds to go along with 15 points and two steals.

"We're trying to establish Latille as our go-to player. We want her to step up and do the job," Freeman-Jackson said.

Junior forward Elma Stevenson also set a career-mark with 15 rebounds as she was one of six players with more rebounds than points.

Prairie View stayed in the game thanks to a slew of ASU turnovers, 33 to be exact, that led to 22 Lady Panther points.

"We had too many turnovers and a lot of them didn't have anything to do with what the defense was doing," Freeman-Jackson said.

The offense - which shot only 27 percent from the field - struggled in the first half, but the Lady Hornets' defense did its usual solid job. Coming into the game atop the SWAC in field goal defense, ASU held Prairie View to 17 percent shooting in the first half en route to a 27-22 halftime advantage.

"Our defense has been carrying us all year," Freeman-Jackson said. "But in the basketball world, you've got to put the ball in the basket."

Bama State used a 10-4 run in the opening three minutes of the second half to spread its advantage to double digits. A 3-pointer by freshman guard Capri Taylor gave ASU a 45-31 lead at the 12:51 mark - the largest of the game. Prairie View, which shot 23 percent from the field, would only get as close as seven points the rest of the way.

Frantina Coleman scored 11 points and Shantae Robinson added 10 for the Lady Hornets, who are in action again on Saturday at Mississippi Valley State. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.