On the positive and strong efforts of the big three Daniele Ewert, Britney Wright and Jasmine Peeples, the number four-seeded Alabama State women's basketball team continued on its journey at the 2015 Toyota SWAC Basketball Tournament with a 62-60 victory over No. 2-seed Jackson State Friday afternoon in semifinal action at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.
 
Ewert had a game high of 22 points, Wright had 16 and Peeples, the Defensive Player of the Year, finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds, two blocks and a steal in leading the Lady Hornets (16-14) to an appearance in the SWAC Tournament Championship game for the first time since the 2009-2010 season.  The win avenged a pair of regular season losses to Jackson State (14-17), including one that went into overtime (68-67) last week on March 5.
 
Kayla Tucker added five points for the Lady Hornets, while Ewert collected seven boards and blocked two shots.  She also had one still steal?  to add to her outstanding play.
 
Jackson State's Derica Wiggins led her team with 14 points, Alissa Ross chipped in 10 points, while Bridget Robinson added nine.
 
"I was really proud of these ladies today," said head women's basketball coach Freda Freeman-Jackson.  "This was a great win for us and the University.  I told the girls that "this is our season" (our SID La Tonia Thirston came up with this theme for us at the beginning of the season).  I am so excited for this opportunity to play in this championship tomorrow".
 
Alabama State used a 7-4 run over the first five minutes of the game to grab the early momentum.  Alabama State continued its surge as they took a 15-point lead with 3:40 left on the clock.  JSU tried to chip into the lead, but it wasn't enough as the Lady Hornets took a 29-19 halftime lead going in the locker room.
 
Coming out of the half, JSU closed within four with 17:56 on the clock to start the second half.  Alabama State continued its surge with 9:48 left on the clock and kept the momentum with a 10-point lead.  Jackson State continued their comeback with less than five minutes left to work their way back within three (52-49).
 
From that point, the teams swapped baskets for the last minutes of the game until the Lady Hornets closed the game on Ewert's free throw to seal the victory.
 
ASU will be appearing in the SWAC Championship for the fifth time in the Freeman-Jackson era.  The last SWAC Tournament Championship game was in 2009 against Southern University, a 56-47 loss.
 
Alabama State will play the winners of the Southern and Prairie View game that is set to tip at 6 pm, Friday night.
 
The Ladies will play on ESPNU for the SWAC title at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 14.
 
 
 
 
 
GO HORNETS