Final Box

BOSSIER CITY, La. – The magical run of the No.7-seed Alabama State women's basketball team came to a heartbreaking end Saturday night as No.1-seed Southern earned a 60-47 victory over ASU in the championship game of the 2010 Farmers Insurance SWAC Basketball Tournament at the CenturyTel Center.

Alabama State, who ends the year at 13-17, defeated both the number two and three-seeded squads on its way to the program's fifth all-time appearance in the SWAC Tournament championship game. However, a late first-half rally by the top-seeded Jaguars (23-8) proved to be the difference.

Junior Tanika Jackson, a first-team All-SWAC performer, scored 22 points to lead the Lady Hornets. She was the lone ASU player in double-digits. Senior Shanice Merritt, who was named to the All-Tournament squad, had a tough final finishing with two points, five rebounds and two blocked shots.

Ashley Augerson, an All-Tournament selection, paced the Jaguars with 19 points while Tournament MVP Hannah Kador chipped in 15 points and seven boards. Tiffany Foster added 10 points in the win.

Both teams had to shake off early championship game jitters. Alabama State committed six turnovers while Southern made just four of its first 11 shots through the opening six minutes of action.

The two squads settled down and into a back-and-forth affair featuring several lead changes as neither team could build more than a three-point advantage. Midway through the period, the Jaguars put together a 7-0 run capped by a three-pointer by Kador that put them in front 16-10 with 10:07 left.

Alabama State answered quickly with six straight points from Jackson to knot the score less than two minutes later.

The Jags then turned to their defense holding the Lady Hornets scoreless during a 15-0 run over the final seven minutes of the half. Southern led 34-19 at the due in part to a 5-for-10 shooting performance from beyond the arc.

Jackson was the key factor for ASU in the first period scoring 12 of the team's 19 points in the half.

The Lady Hornets scoring woes continued at the start of the second half with ASU unable to score until Jakayla Hill made a three-pointer at the 15:35 mark. Bama State went over 11 and a half minutes of game action without scoring.

Southern also struggled offensively early in the second half with the Jags producing just a pair of free throws through the first six minutes. However, SU eventually got back on track behind an 11-1 surge that put them up 47-26 with 8:40 remaining.

A gritty and determined ASU squad refused to quit trimming into the Jaguars' advantage with a 12-4 run of its own pulling within 11 at the 3:16 mark. Unfortunately, the Lady Hornets could get no closer as Southern made its free throws in the closing minutes to maintain a double-digit margin.

As the No.7 seed, Alabama State was the lowest seeded team to reach the final game since No.8-seed Mississippi Valley State accomplished the feat in 2004. It was ASU second appearance in the championship game as the seventh seed.

ASU head coach Freda Freeman-Jackson has now guided the Lady Hornets to four championship game appearances including a title run in 2003.