March 11, 2006

Final Stats

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Something about playing Southern during the Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament doesn't work for Alabama State.

Fredrieka Lewis scored 16 points and Rolanda Monroe scored 17, including a 13-for-13 performance from the free throw line, to lead Southern University past Alabama State 61-58 to win the 2006 Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex Arena.

The Jaguars (20-10) earn the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament for the third time in five years. Alabama State ends the season at 15-15, losing to Southern in the league tournament for the second straight year and for the second time in a championship game (2002).

But head coach Freda Freeman-Jackson did not think her team got a fair shot at bringing home the title.

"Everyone knows we lost some key players and we were rebuilding this year. But we worked hard enough to win the SWAC championship and we should've been rewarded," said Freeman-Jackson, who was unhappy with the officiating. She pointed out the difference in fouls (27-16) and free throw attempts (32-17), both in Southern's favor.

Tashia Holston scored a game-high 17 points and Shantae Robinson added 13 points - 11 in the second half. But she missed a 3-pointer with six seconds remaining that would have tied the game and sent it into overtime.

"I thought it was going in but it rolled off," said Robinson, who averaged 12 points and three assists and was named to the all-tournament team.

Southern led for most of the contest, but each time the Jaguars tried to seize control of the game, the Lady Hornets fought back.

The Lady Hornets trailed by as many as seven points in the first half, struggling to put the ball in the basket. By halftime, though, ASU was only down 21-18.

Bama State would briefly take the lead on a Latille Ross layup in the opening moments of the second half, but Lewis - who was selected tournament most valuable player - and Krystal Huggins continually scored down in the low post to push the Southern advantage back to seven points with 9:23 remaining.

Again, Alabama State fought back. Robinson and Holston keyed a 9-2 run over the next three minutes to tie the game at 46. But Lewis would score on the Jaguars' next possession to give them the lead for good.

Ross and Jackson State's Shelita Burns joined Robinson, Monroe and Lewis on the all-tournament team.