MONTGOMERY, Ala. –Alabama State's senior class of Shanice Merritt, Briana Thomas and Jamie Chambers treated Lady Hornet fans to one last thrill as the trio led ASU to a dominating 72-45 victory over Jackson State Saturday afternoon at the Dunn-Oliver Acadome.

Merritt, Thomas and Chambers combined for 29 points, 19 rebounds, seven assists and six blocked shots in their final home appearance for Alabama State (11-16, 8-10 SWAC). With the win, ASU finishes the regular season tied for sixth in the SWAC standings and will be the No.7 seed at next week's SWAC Championship Tournament.

Jackson State finished the 2009-10 season with a 6-22 overall record and a 5-13 mark in SWAC play. The Lady Tigers ended the year 10th in the SWAC standings and did not qualify for the conference tournament.

Tanika Jackson tallied her 17th double-double of the year to lead ASU finishing with a team-best 15 points and 10 rebounds. Merritt had 14 points and four blocks while Thomas chipped in 12 points and eight boards. Ten different Lady Hornets got into the scoring column on Saturday.

Rachel Jones scored 19 points as the only Lady Tiger in double digits.

Merritt and Thomas got things rolling early combining to score 10 points in a 14-0 ASU run that gave Bama State a 19-6 lead with 10:24 left in the first half. The Lady Hornets defense held Jackson State scoreless for over five minutes while building the lead.

JSU slowed the Bama State surge with four straight points, but the Lady Hornets quickly picked it back up answering with the next 11 points to seize a 20-point advantage, 30-10, at the 6:33 mark.

Alabama State continued to dominate play in the first half before a late 7-0 rally by the Lady Tigers over the closing two minutes cut the halftime margin to 40-24. ASU limited Jackson State to just 25 percent shooting (5-for-20) in the first period and also posted an 18-4 advantage for points in the paint.

The Lady Hornets scored the first 12 points of the second half and took complete control of the game as the Lady Tigers missed their first 15 shot attempts. JSU did not score a field goal until the 4:46 mark of the period.

During the drought, ASU outscored JSU 21-5 en route to owning a 33-point lead, 61-28, as all of Jackson State's points came from the free throw line.

Even substituting liberally in the final minutes, the Lady Hornets continued their smothering defensive play in securing the comfortable victory. JSU finished the second half with only four baskets in 23 shot attempts (17.4 percent).

For the game, the Lady Tigers mustered just nine field goals and shot 20.9 percent from the floor while Alabama State connected at a 42.6 percent clip (23-of-54) and committed just nine turnovers.

The Lady Hornets now turn their attention to the postseason as ASU begins play at the 2010 Farmers Insurance SWAC Basketball Tournament. Alabama State faces No.2 seed Prairie View A&M in the tournament opener Wednesday at Noon in the Century Tel Center in Shreveport, La.