March 10, 2006

Final Stats

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Top-seeded Jackson State erased an early 16-point deficit but Alabama State, behind the play of Latille Ross and Shantae Robinson, advanced to the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship game with a 67-57 win Friday at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Center Arena.

Ross scored 18 points and grabbed 17 rebounds while Robinson scored 10 of her 12 points in the second half for the fourth-seeded Lady Hornets (15-14), who will take on No. 2 seed Southern at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday.

ASU head coach Freda Freeman-Jackson said she was happy to see her team conquer a Jackson State squad that had beaten the Lady Hornets twice this season, including a 20-point win on the final day of the regular season.

"This team has redeemed itself. Alcorn State and Jackson State beat us twice this season and Jackson State spoiled our Senior Night," Freeman-Jackson said. "We did a good job playing defense and executing on offense. The girls really wanted this game."

Alabama State came out hot, making 9-of-13 from the floor to stake itself to a 20-4 advantage. The Lady Hornets spent most of the remainder of the half with a double digit lead but led 32-23 at halftime.

Jackson State roared back in the second half, using a 13-3 run in the first five minutes to take a 36-35 lead. ASU would retake the lead but a Shante Stanford 3-pointer with 5:57 remaining gave the Lady Tigers held a one-point lead.

But on the Lady Hornets' next possession, L'Teisha Holloway (10 points) drained her own 3-pointer to put Bama State back on top for good.

Jackson State's Shelita Burns scored 17 points to lead three Lady Tigers in double figures. But she struggled from the free throw line, missing eight of her 13 attempts as JSU went 19-of-37 as a team.

"We didn't make shots and we didn't make free throws," JSU head coach Denise Taylor said. "But you have to credit (ASU) for coming out and playing a good game."